HBO‘s Game of Thrones prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight has found its Dunk and Egg. Following his recent appearance in Wreck Season 2, Peter Claffey is set to suit up as Ser Duncan the Tall with recent The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes alum Dexter Sol Ansell traveling alongside him as his diminutive squire Egg. Production is slated to begin on the spin-off sometime later this year with David Zaslav previously promising that the pair would journey onto screens at some point in late 2025.
The Hedge Knight takes place in the century before the events of the flagship series based on George R.R. Martin‘s acclaimed novels. With the Targaryen line still holding the Iron Throne, the unlikely heroes wander Westeros, carving their own path of adventure through a dangerous land where the memory of the last dragon has yet to fade and where great foes await around every corner. The series will follow their life-threatening exploits as they build out their legend. As previously announced, it’s planned for a three-season run that will opt for smaller-scale adventures to stay out of the shadow of House of the Dragon and its sweeping story of the Targaryen family’s inner conflicts.
Bringing Dunk and Egg to screens has been an arduous journey, to say the least. A series based on the novellas chronicling their adventures was first announced among several Game of Thrones sequels in the works back in early 2021. Last year, work on The Hedge Knight was then temporarily upended along with much of the industry during the WGA strike as Martin, who is also the series co-creator with Ira Parker, stood in solidarity with his fellow writers. With the key roles now filled, we are now closer than ever to seeing the two friends begin their journey and expand Westeros once again.
Where Have We Seen Claffey and Ansell Before?
Claffey and Ansell are relative newcomers with a few but notable roles between the two of them. Claffey makes his Westeros debut just two years after beginning his breakthrough role as Cormac Kelly in the BBC horror comedy hit Wreck, though he also appeared in the Apple TV+ dramedy Bad Sisters and in the Jane Seymour-led Henry Wild. Besides playing an even younger Coriolanus Snow, Ansell’s young career also includes the Sky Original The Midwich Cuckoos and Netflix‘s Christmas on Mistletoe Farm. Together, they’ll embark on what’s being set up as a lighter Game of Thrones adventure that will give them plenty of screentime to play off each other.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is eyeing a late 2025 release. In the meantime, fans can expect to return to Westeros this summer when House of the Dragon debuts its second season on HBO and Max on June 16.
via Collider