A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight: Everything we know so far - creators, plot, and more
Everything we know so far about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
With the recent success of House of the Dragon, it appears that HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe is expanding yet again with another prequel show. Long-time fans of Martin’s work have been looking forward to a series dedicated to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it seems like they’re finally getting their wish. A recent announcement during Warner Bros. Discovery’s press conference confirmed that production has officially been greenlit, with Martin himself slated to work as a series writer and executive producer.
During the same event, Warner Bros. Discovery also announced that its new streaming platform would simply be called "Max" and combine HBO Max and Discovery+. But what exactly can fans expect from this all-new spinoff—or "successor show," as Martin calls these prequels—and how does it play into Game of Thrones’ larger narrative? Well, here is everything we know so far.
What is the plot of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight?
The network has released the show’s official synopsis: "A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naive, 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."
In the book, the first of the series of novellas begins with Dunk and Egg’s origins at the tourney in Ashford. The two meet at an inn after a bored Egg follows the hedge knight to the tourney after his brother decides not to joust. Impressed, Dunk takes him on as his squire. Although the two make the most out of the day and also enjoy watching the rest of the competition, Egg’s older brothers disgrace themselves and get involved in an altercation with Dunk, calling for the first Trial of Seven in over a century.
Is there a trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight?
The adaptation of The Hedge Knight is still in the early stages of development, so they have yet to release a trailer.
Who is in the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight?
As of this writing, we are still waiting to receive word on official casting announcements.
Who are the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight staff/creators?
George R.R. Martin himself will serve as the show’s executive producer. It’s also been confirmed that he will be joined by House of the Dragon's Ira Parker, Vince Gerardis, and Ryan Condal.
When is the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight release date?
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav has announced that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight will be released sometime in late 2025 on the Max streaming service.
Where does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight fit into the Game of Thrones timeline?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (originally known as "Tales of Dunk and Egg") is set roughly over 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones but also less than a century following the timeline of House of the Dragon. In other words, the story takes place sometime between the two shows, specifically at 209 AC. There are no more dragons, but the Targaryens remain the rulers of Westeros, albeit still reeling from another significant coup within the family known as the Blackfyre Rebellions. Superstitious King Aerys I sits atop the Iron Throne with Brynden Rivers—who is better known as the Three-Eyed Raven on the HBO adaptation—as his Hand, all while the realm is unknowingly about to suffer the onslaught of the Great Spring Sickness.
During this same year, a tourney is held in Ashford, and it is there our protagonists meet: a friendly hedge knight named Dunk and an unassuming prince, who would later unwittingly become king, fondly called Egg. If you may recall, Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch from the original show fondly mentioned having had a brother named Egg, and yes, this Egg is the same one he was referring to.
What is a Hedge Knight?
Hedge knights are knights without a master. Often, they don’t have lands of their own and sleep under hedges, hence the term. They wander all across Westeros in search of employment, typically attending tourneys and showing off their skills to gain fame or the favor of certain lords. Think of them as the modern-day and real-life equivalent of freelancers.
What are the Seven Kingdoms?
The Seven Kingdoms are a conglomerate of realms that make the entirety of Westeros. In Game of Thrones, these seven realms are each overseen by a specific Great House and overlord who has sworn fealty to the ruler on the Iron Throne. Before Aegon Targaryen’s Conquest of Westeros, however, three centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, Westeros was quite literally composed of seven kingdoms, each with its own monarch. This changed when Aegon and his sister-wives flew to the continent aboard their dragons and seized the continent—with the exception of Dorne—each of the monarchs laid down their swords at their feet and were made overlords of their lands instead.
Who are Dunk and Egg?
"Dunk" is otherwise known as Ser Duncan the Tall, a former squire turned hedge knight who, later on in life, becomes Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. As for his companion "Egg," he is better known for his name when he ascended the Iron Throne: Aegon V, the Unlikely. As previously mentioned, the two meet in a tourney at Ashford, where Aegon waits on his eldest brother Daeron as his squire, only for the latter to refuse to compete and get drunk at an inn instead. While at the inn, the young prince Aegon encounters Dunk, who mistakes him for a groom after Daeron has shaved his head so that others do not recognize him as a Targaryen prince. Given that Daeron was no longer jousting, Egg convinced Dunk to let him be his squire, to which the hedge knight relented.
When Aegon’s father Prince Maekar commands that Aegon be trained to be a knight, the young boy agrees on the condition that only Dunk will teach him. Prince Maekar allows him, Dunk, and Egg to set off on their adventures, with Egg maintaining his identity as a secret while on their travels. He keeps his head shaved to keep his Targaryen silver hair from growing and a signet ring from his father hidden in his boot, should the need to reveal himself arise. His time spent traveling with Dunk defined Egg’s early years, making him grow up to become sweet, innocent, and approachable. During the Great Council to determine the succession of his father Maekar, however, several lords considered him "half a peasant" for his years spent on the road. Still, Egg is crowned Aegon V, the fourth son of a fourth son—the Unlikely and beloved by the smallfolk with whom he spent most of his early life.
What book is The Hedge Knight based on?
Originally titled The Tales of Dunk and Egg, The Hedge Knight was first published in 1998 in Legends, an anthology that contained stories by several other authors, including acclaimed horror writer Stephen King and fantasy writer Terry Pratchett. Martin followed up with several more stories showcasing Dunk and Egg’s adventures years later with The Sworn Sword in 2003 and The Mystery Knight in 2010, before the three novellas were finally compiled into one in 2015 with the publication of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
