Inside HBO’s New Dunk & Egg Prequel and Its Epic Journey to Screen
After more than half a decade since Game of Thrones delivered its polarizing finale, we’re finally packing our saddle bags for a new Westerosi adventure. No dragons or White Walkers this time, but plenty of knights, jousts, and enough political sneakiness to keep even Littlefinger happy. Because HBO’s newest fantasy show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Dunk & Egg, is officially riding toward our screens—and folks, get your tourney banners ready, it’s shaping up promisingly.
Filming officially began last June in Northern Ireland, and as of May 2025, production is wrapped and in post-production. Fans who’ve been craving another dose of Westeros were delighted to hear the HBO crew returned once again to the stunning locales around Belfast. Specifically, Glenarm Castle stepped back into the spotlight—it’s doubling for Ashford Meadow, a pivotal location in Dunk and Egg’s first literary adventure. Picking Northern Ireland keeps it comfortably close to the well-loved Thrones aesthetic. And let’s be honest, would it even feel like Westeros if it wasn’t a little gray and windswept?
Speaking of windswept, social media went bananas recently as clandestine set images popped up online. Anonymous leaks spread on Twitter (or is it X we’re calling it now?), featuring what fans quickly identified as Ser Duncan the Tall’s truly massive shield. Reddit’s r/asoiaf community practically imploded with excitement, debating every scratch and sigil as though deciphering runes on Valyrian steel. The images themselves weren’t crystal-clear—just shaky snapshots taken through trees—but they had enough juicy details to ignite the fandom. Duncan’s famously huge oak shield seemed accurate to Martin’s vivid descriptions, featuring simple, practical knightly art. But seeing real-life props has finally made this spinoff feel real to fans hungry for fresh adventures.
Dunk & Egg: Bringing GRRM’s Classic Novellas To Life
Unlike House of the Dragon—which sent viewers nearly two centuries into Targaryen history—A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms zooms in about 90 years before Game of Thrones. And instead of epic dynastic struggles, we join the lives of two heroes: Ser Duncan the Tall, a steadfast hedgie with few connections, and his energetic squire, Egg—secretly a Targaryen prince. Their travels offer a perfect balance between grounded knightly adventure, clever humor, and enough under-the-surface politics to remind you it’s still Westeros.
Season 1 closely adapts the novella “The Hedge Knight,” introducing our protagonists at Ashford Meadow. It’s a prestigious tourney attracting noble lords, knights, aspiring squires, and, naturally, troublemakers of all stripes. True to Martin’s style, it quickly leads viewers into complex moral dilemmas and political intrigue—no surprise there. Expect stakes that feel smaller at first but steadily climb higher. Because even small tournaments in Westeros have ways of setting kingdom-altering events in motion.
Owen Harris Takes the Directorial Reins
To helm the crucial early episodes, HBO selected Owen Harris, whose previous credits include “San Junipero,” the acclaimed, bittersweet Black Mirror episode. Harris’s track record promises that Dunk & Egg won’t just mimic Thrones—it’ll cultivate its own unique emotional punch. And that seems perfect because the Dunk & Egg novellas thrive on intimate character drama rather than CGI spectacle. Harris excels at character-driven storytelling, striking humanity, emotion, humor, and warmth amid bleak futuristic scenarios. So fans are optimistic he’ll bring depth rather than just dumping out sword-fights and palace rivalries.
The first season reportedly contains six episodes— shorter than Thrones’ epic seasons, but on par with recent limited series trends. Harris directed three, setting the visual and emotional tone early. And while HBO is tight-lipped about who directed the final trio, rumor has it we’ll soon get some news there, too.
George R.R. Martin’s Hints & Fan Theories
Of course, no Game of Thrones prequel would be complete without online theorizing. In recent months, George R.R. Martin himself stirred speculation with posts on “Not a Blog”—his informally famous internet ramblings that regularly send Reddit spiraling. According to Martin’s subtle teases, Season 1 strictly adapts “The Hedge Knight.” If ratings and feedback hold strong, HBO seems ready to continue adapting the remaining Dunk & Egg novellas: “The Sworn Sword” and “The Mystery Knight.” Martin also openly expressed that he hopes fan enthusiasm helps greenlight more seasons to tell the duo’s full adventures.
That excites readers who’ve been waiting for these stories for literal decades. Martin notoriously plans seven to twelve Dunk & Egg novellas, though he’s only completed three officially. Some Redditors anxiously wonder: will Martin accelerate his novella writing? Or is HBO planning to surpass published material (again), potentially causing new controversies among die-hard fans?
Either way, elements unique to the novellas have already ignited lively online discussion:
- Egg’s secret heritage and how it’s slowly revealed
- The carefully interwoven backstory of Targaryen succession
- Dunk’s growth from unknown hedge knight to legendary hero
- Nostalgic cameos and subtle Easter eggs hinting at wider Westerosi lore
It’s safe to say the Reddit community stands cautiously optimistic. After Thrones’s rocky finish and House of the Dragon’s success, HBO realizes expectations remain sky-high. But Dunk & Egg’s lower-stakes style might offer viewers breathing room, a return to intimate tales instead of sprawling epics.
Season 1’s Potential Impact & Appeal
Indeed, HBO’s choice to revisit familiar narrative ground promises nostalgia and freshness in equal measures. Rather than kings and dragons, Dunk & Egg offers everyday Westerosi struggles: chivalry, loyalty, corruption, and honor. The humorous dialogue alone will feel like a breath of fresh air after the serious House of the Dragon arcs. And the chemistry between horrendously tall Dunk and mischievous Egg brings witty repartee instead of constant doom.
One critical fact standing out this month: HBO seems more patient now, carefully constructing the Dunk & Egg universe. Production schedules remain steady. Casting announcements surfaced slowly but steadily—the most attention-grabbing so far include rising star Louis Hofmann (from Netflix’s Dark), rumored (although still unofficial from HBO) to be playing Dunk himself.
Several other intriguing rumors swirl online forums:
- Could beloved Thrones figures (Three-Eyed Raven or possibly young Maester Aemon) appear in later seasons?
- Will Owen Harris stay aboard if HBO moves forward into later novellas—or will they shift tones between each?
- Fan appeals online continue to grow louder, already suggesting dream castings for later entries.
And yet, despite online hysteria and leaks galore, showrunners remained calm and resolute. HBO cautiously allows anticipation to simmer rather than boil over too soon, slowly revealing details over recent months. But, with only a few officially-released promotional stills to analyze, fan appetite—for footage, actual trailers, character reveals—only grows greater.
The Quest Begins
With filming now wrapped, editing underway, and an official late-2025 release date aimed, anticipation ramps up nicely. Fans can expect an official teaser trailer this summer—perhaps at San Diego Comic-Con or another major media event. Whatever the exact timing, everyone’s waiting impatiently to see Dunk & Egg truly brought to life on screen.
We don’t have dragons looming on the horizon and no existential White Walker threats (yet). But Dunk & Egg have heart, friendship, humor, and just enough Targaryen mystery entwining beneath their seemingly straightforward quests. George R.R. Martin’s Westerosi universe remains expansive enough to offer many kinds of storytelling. Dunk & Egg’s tale might not shift entire continents—but sometimes even small stories change history.
And after all, who doesn’t just want to see their favorite humble hedge knight with his giant shield ride out once again to adventures unknown?
