A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms First Look Teases Game of Thrones Spinoff

The unexpected Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has just released its first official footage. Starring former pro-rugby player, Peter Claffey, the new series follows Ser Duncan the Tall as he ventures to compete in the Ashford Meadows Tourney. The new show takes place around 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and, despite its seemingly insignificant story, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms drastically changes the future of Westeros and is due to land exclusively on the streaming platform Max.

In a new featurette released by HBO (which you can check out below), Game of Thrones fans have their best look yet at Claffey as Dunk, a.k.a. Ser Duncan the Tall. The footage also showcases Dunk’s trusty squire Egg, played by Dexter Sol Ansell. Despite the short length of the novella, three seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have been planned by HBO. Subsequent seasons will likely adapt Martin’s other two novellas following Ser Duncan the Tall, titled ‘The Sworn Sword’ and ‘The Mystery Knight.’

Casting Ser Duncan the Tall was no mean feat for showrunner Ira Parker. The chosen actor had to not only encapsulate Ser Duncan’s personality, but tower over every other actor in the show. As a result, Peter Claffey looks to be the perfect choice. A former pro-Rugby Union player, Claffey is no stranger to physicality, and the new footage showcases his strength and power as he floors an opponent with a single punch. Joining Claffey in the new series is Tanzyn Crawford, Bertie Carvel, Finn Bennett, Daniel Ings, and Sam Spruell, alongside the aforementioned Dexter Sol Ansell.

What Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms All About?

While Game of Thrones showed Westeros’ most powerful houses vying for the Iron Throne, and House of the Dragon explores the civil war that led to the downfall of House Targaryan, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms appears significantly smaller in scale. A far more personal story, the series follows Dunk, a former squire who dons the armor of his deceased Lord, posing as Ser Dunan the Tall. In pursuit of fame and glory, Ser Duncan the Tall, sets out to compete in a tournament in the town of Ashford, attended by Prince Baelor Targaryen. The official logline reads:

“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.”

Set between the events of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, HBO executives have previously stated that they do not want A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to draw attention away from the network’s two biggest shows set in Martin’s universe. Upcoming seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will fill the void between future seasons of House of the Dragon and the other upcoming Game of Thrones spin-offs.