A new Game of Thrones prequel is here: Everything we know about A Knight of Seven Kingdoms

Game of Thrones fans are in for a treat – another of George R.R. Martin's works is being turned into a TV series!

The Tales of Dunk and Egg is a novella set between the happenings of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, and it's now been developed into a six-episode mini series called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Nine.com.au was lucky enough to catch up with showrunner Ira Parker and the cast to pick their brains about the series ahead of its release.

Keep reading to find out everything we know so far about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 

When does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiere?

The first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set for release on HBO on Monday, January 19. The following episodes will be released weekly on Mondays.

The exact time they will drop hasn't been specified; however, if Australia will be getting the episodes at the same time as the US, we can expect them around midday AEDT. 

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How many episodes are in season one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms hasn't been released yet, fans are already shocked to learn the series is much more condensed than its predecessors.

Season one will consist of six episodes, each roughly around 30 minutes long, except for the first episode, which will run just slightly over the 40-minute mark.

In a roundtable interview, showrunner Ira Parker nine.com.au and others that although the decision to condense the show made it harder to tell a dramatic story, the fact it's told from just one character's point of view "took some of that pressure off".

Whereas other TV shows produced in the Game of Thrones universe tell several different stories at once, intertwining side-quests with the main storyline, A Knight of Seven Kingdoms purely focuses on a single story.

What will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms be about? 

While Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon were adapted from full-length novels, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on a novella, meaning there is a single plot, fewer characters, and faster pacing.

Based on the series of novellas, Tales of Dunk and Egg, the show is told entirely from the point of view of a hedge knight named Ser Duncan the Tall – also known as Dunk – and follows his adventures with his young squire known as Egg.

It's hard to say too much without spoiling anything, but the story is set in the world of Westeros, around 100 years after House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones.

Targaryens still hold the Iron Throne, and although dragons no longer exist, those alive still remember their reign.

Odd pairings are something Martin has always written well – just look at Arya Stark and The Hound, Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister, and Jamie Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. Now, we have an entire series based on one with the pairing of Dunk and Egg.

Whereas previous adaptations have been primarily told from the perspective of nobility, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes us into the experience of a lower-born hedge knight.

"It's certainly a different way into this world," Parker tells nine.com.au.

"It makes the language different, it makes the people that Dunk trades with different. What I love about Dunk's entry into this world is that all of a sudden, he can't quite figure out if these lords and ladies and big fancy knights are actually this crazy or not.

"There's a quirkiness, there's an absurdity to some of their behaviour ... the excess that they have, the eccentricities that they have. There's a moment of pause where they say something, and Dunk is wondering, 'Is this person insane? Is this a joke? Are they putting it on?'

"And I love that side of this, that everything doesn't have to be taken too seriously."

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Who is cast in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

Peter Claffey as Dunk

Former rugby player Peter Claffey takes on the leading role of Dunk.

He tells nine.com.au he's always been a huge fan of the original series, so now stepping into a leading role in the prequel, he's really feeling the pressure.

"I still am one of those kind of crazy fans of [Game of Thrones]. So I knew how much was riding on it to do it justice to not just the books, but the TV universe," he says.

"So yeah, it was nerve-wracking, but it was an amazing challenge. It was probably the best thing I've ever done in my life."

Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg

At nine years old, Dexter Sol Ansell has taken on his first leading role as Egg.

Now 11, Ansell says even though he's never seen the original series, he definitely understands how big the fandom is.

"It probably added to the excitement for me," he tells nine.com.au

"I know how big the franchise is, and I know it's like the number one thing, and it's a crazy thing to be part of.

"And you can't get back to normality every day, you just still think, 'Wow, I'm doing this, and I've just turned 11'."

Bertie Carvell as Baelor Targaryen

Bertie Carvell takes on the role of Baelor Targaryen, the second in line to the Iron Throne, who serves as his father's hand of the king.

He's known as one of the most noble lords in the series, earning respect with ease thanks to his charisma and sense of justice.

"One of the reasons I was so drawn to the story and to the character is more than anything, right now, I want stories in which there is a space for heroism," Carvell tells nine.com.au.

"It's a world in which we've come to expect a kind of cynicism, a certain kind of nihilistic worldview ... And I love that a prince who rules a dynasty in its dying throes, who've lost their nuclear arsenal and are clinging onto power through a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty and who might find it easier to rule with an iron fist, decides that there's something more important."

Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen

Played by Sam Spruell, Maekar is the younger brother of Baelor, though not nearly as successful or charismatic.

He's a seasoned army commander, known to be harsh and quick to judge. 

"I had no problems getting in touch with my inner killer, because that's what I do in a lot of parts," Spruell tells nine.com.au

Maekar is one of the most conflicted characters in the series – a cold, stern man grappling with a genuine concern for his four sons and the feeling of being inferior to his older brother.

"I really enjoyed thinking about what it is to be part of a family," Spruell adds.

"[He's] not nearly as successful, charming, or politically deft as his older brother. And I also really enjoyed thinking about what it is to have kids who we see are kind of damaged.

"One's an alcoholic, one's unhinged and incredibly violent, and without any kind of moral code. That was a challenge, but also something that we all really enjoyed."

Finn Bennet as Aerion Targaryen

Finn Bennett stars in the series as Prince Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion the Monstrous.

Aerion is one of Maekar's four sons and is one of the greatest examples of the kind of madness that runs in the Targaryen bloodline.

Bennett tells nine.com.au that when he was working on how to portray his character's cruelty and arrogance, he was told to look at a particular character from the original series.

"Anytime Jamie Lannister is on screen, seasons 1 to 2, before he has his reckoning, he does this really beautiful thing where he looks through people, and he doesn't regard them as people," he says.

Daniel Ings as Lyonel Baratheon

Known as the Laughing Storm for his odd behaviour during battle, Ser Lyonel Baratheon is considered one of the finest fighters of his time.

Daniel Ings takes on the role, telling nine.com.au that he enjoyed getting to portray such a wild character, describing him as "somebody who's looking for the next interesting thing to come along".

"There's a great Robin Williams quote, which is like 'you're only born with a tiny spark of madness, don't ever lose it'. I feel like my character sort of embodies that," he says.

"And then the challenge was making sure that he was also dangerous and someone that you could believe would beat someone to death on the battlefield."

Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle

There's an Aussie in the cast!

Hailing from Perth, Tanzyn Crawford stars in the series as a travelling puppeteer named Tanzelle.

While we've seen plenty of knights and noblemen in past series, we've rarely seen a truly creative character at the heart of the series.

"I wanted to keep it as kind of removed as possible for Tanselle, because she's just a regular person in this world," Crawford says of finding inspiration for her character.

"I didn't feel the need to update myself on all of the Game of Thrones knowledge.

"I didn't want to, like, have that stored in my brain, because I know I'd be thinking about it. I just wanted to leave her in her own little undisturbed world."

Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway

Last but certainly not least is Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway.

We can't say too much about his character without giving away spoilers, but what we can say is we're almost certain that he'll become a fan favourite.

Much like Crawford, Thomas tried to steer clear of looking back at Game of Thrones to avoid adding any extra pressure onto an already huge role.

"I wanted to make sure that I wasn't falling into any tones subconsciously," he says.

"So I just tried to keep it all separate, and just tried creating Raymun so it would be organic and somewhat different to any other characters that have been in the show."

Where can I watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be available to stream on HBO Max, with episodes released weekly. 

How many seasons will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have? 

The first season is based on the first novella in a trilogy, with the show already renewed and in production for season two.

It has not yet been announced if it will receive a third season. 

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