First image from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and major new cast members revealed!

House of the Dragon may be airing its second season right now, but HBO is already hard at work on another Game of Thrones spinoff: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk & Egg novellas. Set roughly 90 years before Thrones, the Dunk & Egg stories are relatively light fare about an earnest knight and his mouthy squire roaming around Westeros going on adventures. These stories still have backstabbing and plot twists aplenty, but in general they're not meant to leave you weeping bitter tears of sorrow the way Thrones or Dragon might.

Instead, you can weep tears of joyful excitement, because HBO has just unveiled the very first image from the series! Here's the main man, Ser Duncan the Tall himself, played by Peter Claffey:

Most of the first Dunk & Egg story, The Hedge Knight, takes place at a tourney at Ashford Meadow. A makeshift village springs up there in support of the tourney, as they do; imagine the air of a Renaissance Faire, except with a higher chance for violence since it's Westeros. I imagine this image is either at Ashford or near an inn Dunk stops at on the way there, which is where he first meets Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell in the show).

The shiny new photo comes along with a lot of other promising information about the series. For starters, it's officially in production in Belfast, Ireland. There's also a new logline for the series:

"A century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends."

HBO has also confirmed that Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons in Chemistry) will direct three of the season's six episodes. With the previous confirmation that Owen Harris (director of the beloved Black Mirror episode "San Junipero") will direct the other three episodes, that fills out the season.

But that's not all! HBO has also revealed a bunch of important new cast members. George R.R. Martin hinted recently that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms had cast most of its major roles, and now we finally know some of them.

Finn Bennett as Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen

First up is Finn Bennett, one of the breakout stars of True Detective: Night Country. He'll be playing Aerion Targaryen, and I hope you're ready to hate him. You know that saying about how the gods flip a coin for Targaryens to determine if they'll be good or half-mad? Well, Aerion definitely falls in the latter camp. He's the cause of a lot of the drama in the first Dunk & Egg story, The Hedge Knight. Bennett was a scene stealer in True Detective, so I can't wait to see what he does with this part.

Bertie Carvel as Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Aerion's uncle, Baelor Breakspear, who was considered one of the most honorable and just Targaryens of his day. Baelor will be played by Bertie Carvel. Carvel is a seasoned British actor who played Tony Blair in The Crown; he probably has just the right level of gravitas for Baelor Targaryen. Think of him as the Ned Stark of this story.

Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle

Next up, Tiny Beautiful Things star Tanzyn Crawford has been cast as Tanselle. Tanselle is a painter and puppeteer from Dorne who travels to Ashford Meadow as part of a troupe hoping to capitalize on the festivities. Ser Duncan the Tall sees her perform and becomes smitten. If only this wasn't Westeros, where awful things always prevent people from happily living their lives.

Daniel Ings as Lyonel Baratheon

Another veteran of The Crown, actor Daniel Ings will play Lord Lyonel Baratheon, also known as the Laughing Storm. Lyonel is just as boisterous a figure as the name implies. He's the great grandfather of Robert, Stannis and Renly Baratheon. Of the three of them, he's most like Robert in appearance and temperament. Lyonel plays a key role in the Ashford Meadow tourney, where he's come to compete in the games.

Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen

Last but not least, we have Fargo's Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen. Maekar is the younger brother of Baelor Breakspear and father to Aerion. He sits squarely in the middle of the Targaryen personality spectrum; he's fair and just, but also mercurial enough that you don't want to push his buttons. It's going to be a regular Targaryen family get-together at Ashford Meadow. What could go wrong?

Along with Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, these casting make up the bulk of the main characters for The Hedge Knight. There are other characters, such as a couple of Fossaways and another Targaryen or two, but these five are at the core of the story. I'm starting to get excited already!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is currently filming and is expected to air sometime in 2025. Until then, we have the second season of House of the Dragon to tide us over. New episodes of that one drop Sundays on HBO and Max.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.