Any show set in Westeros instantly has a heap of pressure and expectation on its shoulders. But for prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the pressure is not the same. The prequel, set around a century before Game of Thrones, is completely different in tone than anything else we've seen so far in the franchise. Will viewers take to it, or will it be a step in the wrong direction?
Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which both follow the biggest names in Westeros, with high-stakes battles and political power plays, upcoming spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes a more intimate, character-focused approach. We follow knight-for-hire, or 'Hedge Knight,' Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his diminuitive squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The duo travel around Westeros simply trying to get by, but inexplicably find themselves in various trials and tribulations.
The show is based on the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas by George R.R. Martin. So far, the book series consists of three novellas, with more (hopefully) on the way. The first season will cover the first novella, titled The Hedge Knight. Martin himself is an executive producer on the TV adaptation, and according to showrunner Ira Parker, working with him has been a "delightful" experience.
“I was talking to George for a week and getting his take and his feelings on these characters, learning just how much he loves this story and The Hedge Knight,” Parker said in an interview at New York Comic Con, per Temple of Geek, adding that Martin “made me want to do a good job for him.”
When creating the show, Parker's main goal was to ensure Martin was satisfied with the final product. If George R.R. Martin is happy, then viewers will also be happy. “They say when you’re writing that you should not want to please everybody, that you shouldn’t write for the audience, that you should pick one person and write for them. I did this season for George," Parker said. "The fact that he’s happy makes me very happy. Hopefully this extends to other people.”
“He’s only been a benefit to this show,” he added. “It’s been a delightful experience.”
The six-episode first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts January 18, 2026 on HBO. The other Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon, is expected to return for its third season over the summer. Altogether, 2026 will become the most prolific year for content in the franchise's history.