‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel ‘Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight’ Casts Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell in Lead Roles

The “Game of Thrones” prequel series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight” has found its leads.

The HBO series is based around the characters Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, featured in the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” books written by George R.R. Martin. Peter Claffey has been cast as Dunk, while Dexter Sol Ansell has been cast as Egg.

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Variety exclusively reported the show was in development in 2021, with HBO ordering it to series in 2023. The official logline states, “A century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (Ansell). 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.”

Martin and Ira Parker are writers and executive producers on the show. Ryan Condal, Vince Gerardis, Owen Harris, and Sarah Bradshaw also executive produce.

Claffey is a former Connacht Rugby player and actor whose past credits include the Apple TV+ series “Bad Sisters” from Sharon Horgan and the BBC Three horror comedy series “Wrecked.” Ansell made his acting debut at four years old in the ITV series “Emmerdale.” He has since starred in shows like “The Midwich Cuckoos” and “Hullraisers” and appeared in the prequel film “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”

Martin has published three novellas in the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” series to date: “The Hedge Knight” in 1998, “The Sworn Sword” in 2003 and “The Mystery Knight” in 2010. The three novellas were then collected and published together as “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” in 2015.

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is the second “Game of Thrones” prequel to be greenlit to date. The other, “House of the Dragon,” debuted its first season in 2022 with the second season set to premiere on June 16. “House of the Dragon” proved incredibly popular with audiences and was renewed less than a week after it premiered. In terms of the timeline of the world created by Martin, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” takes place roughly 100 years after the events of “House of the Dragon.”

Elsewhere in Westeros, Variety also exclusively reported that HBO is developing a series set during Aegon’s Conquest.

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