Another 'Game of Thrones' Prequel Is Coming to HBO

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Nearly a year since HBO introduced the idea of a second Game of Thrones spinoff, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has finally given an update on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The show is expected to begin production later this year, with a 2025 release date.

Thrones creator George R.R. Martin will serve as executive producer on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which focuses on his short story collection, The Tales of Dunk and Egg. It's It's noteworthy that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will move forward at HBO, since a few other Thrones spinoffs were already rumored to be in development. There was a potential Aegon the Conqueror series, as well as a Jon Snow sequel that actor Kit Harrington had reportedly pitched the network himself. Given House of the Dragon's success—two years after Game of Thrones came to an ignoble end—a third Game of Thrones spinoff series wouldn't be out of the question.

According to HBO, the series will focus on a time over a century before the events of Game of Thrones. Timeline-wise, that puts it squarely between House of the Dragon and Thrones. According to HBO, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows, "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."

Luckily, George R.R. Martin's books provide the road map—and how it all ties back to the action of Game of Thrones. Here’s everything we know so far.

Spoilers ahead. You have been warned!

What Will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Be About?

Fans of Game of Thrones can look to Martin’s books as a blueprint for what to expect. Set about a century before the Game of Thrones series begins, The Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas follow the adventures of “Dunk” (the lowly knight and future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall), and his squire, “Egg” (the future king Aegon V Targaryen). As Westeros reels from the Blackfyre Rebellion, which pitted Targaryen against Targaryen in a bloody struggle for the Iron Throne, Dunk and Egg travel the sprawling landscape, competing in tournaments to earn their daily bread and often happening upon historical events.

In The Hedge Knight, the first novella in the series, Dunk and Egg are bonded for the first time at a jousting tournament gone wrong. In The Sworn Sword, Dunk and Egg get caught up in regional land conflicts between lords and peasants. In The Mystery Knight, familiar characters like Walder Frey and Beron Stark appear as Dunk and Egg unravel a conspiracy to kill Dunk. Martin intended to write anywhere from seven to twelve entries in The Tales of Dunk and Egg series, but as with The Winds of Winter, his best intentions went awry. Martin previously said that he would refuse to greenlight an adaptation of The Tales of Dunk and Egg until he finished all the installments he’d planned, but clearly, his plans have changed.

How Does Egg Factor Into the Targaryen Line?

Remember Maester Aemon, the elderly maester at Castle Black and confidante to Jon Snow? He's Egg’s older brother. When Maester Aemon declined to take up the Iron Throne, as he’d already sworn his maester’s vows, it was Egg / Aegon who became the King of Westeros. In his first official act as king, Aegon exiled Lord Brynden Rivers, who joined the Night’s Watch, got lost beyond the Wall, and later resurfaced as the Three-Eyed Raven. Aegon’s reign ended when he and many other Targaryens perished in an unexplained fire at their summer palace, but Rhaegar Targaryen, his infant grandson, made it out alive. Fans of the series will remember the surprise reveal that Rhaegar Targaryen was Jon Snow’s real father, making Jon Aegon’s great-grandson.

When Will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Hit HBO?

HBO officially has a 2025 release window, according to Zaslav, which places the series right after House of the Dragon season 2's planned summer 2024 release. If we see subsequent seasons of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2026 and House of the Dragon season 3 in 2027, HBO could very likely give fans some Thrones content at least once per year. Stay tuned—we'll update this story as we continue to learn more.

You Might Also Like

• Kid Cudi Is All Right

• 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks