"Game of Thrones" Spin-off "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" Postponed

The return to Westeros has been delayed: the "Game of Thrones" spin-off "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" was originally announced for 2025. However, HBO and Warner have now confirmed that the release date has been postponed.

At an upfronts event, HBO and Warner Bros. presented their upcoming film and series highlights. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" was also discussed. The adaptation is based on the book of the same name by George R.R. Martin, who is also involved in the series as a producer. The production is the second "Game of Thrones" spin-off. Before that, "House of the Dragon" was released.

At the center of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" are Dunk and his squire Egg. The two travel through Westeros around a century before the events of "Game of Thrones". The main roles are played by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell. Ira Parker is the showrunner and has already worked on "House of the Dragon".

Start date for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"

A trailer for the series was shown at the Warner presentation. It ended with the announcement that the series will be released in 2026. However, the HBO boss went into more detail about the release date. He said that the series would be released in winter. A start date of early 2026 can therefore now be expected. However, it remains unclear when the third season of "House of the Dragon" will be released.

The novellas

George R.R. Martin is of course best known for his epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire". With "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms", he has also published a prequel anthology to the main series. This is a collection of three novellas: "The Hedge Knight", "The Sworn Sword" and "The Mystery Knight".

The plot

The stories follow Dunk, a simple young man of humble origins, who is trying to become a true knight. At his side is Egg, actually Aegon Targaryen, a prince of House Targaryen and future king. The stories shed light on a lesser-known time in Westeros, when the Targaryen royal house still sits on the Iron Throne, but political tensions, power games and class differences still characterize daily life. Although the stories are quite short, they have Martin's typical depth, complexity and moral gray area.

Themes and style

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is less gritty than "Game of Thrones", but retains the typical Martin style. At the same time, the focus on just two main characters allows for a more personal narrative style, which strengthens the emotional bond between reader and characters. The Dunk & Egg stories fill in gaps in the history of Westeros and provide further background information on events and families that play a central role in "Game of Thrones".

The first spin-off: House of the Dragon

Like the novel, the series adaptation "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will therefore offer a different approach. "House of the Dragon", on the other hand, is more typical of "Game of Thrones" or George R.R. Martin: a fantasy drama full of power struggles, dragons and family abysses. The series is based on the book "Fire and Blood" and is set around 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones", during the heyday of House Targaryen.

The plot

The focus is on the simmering power conflict within the Targaryen dynasty, which ultimately leads to the so-called "Dance of the Dragons". King Viserys I must settle his succession - and his decision to name Princess Rhaenyra as his heir is met with resistance. What follows is a fierce battle for the Iron Throne, in which alliances, betrayal and intrigue drive the kingdom into an abyss.

Dragons, politics and tragedy

"House of the Dragon" offers what many fans love about "Game of Thrones": complex characters, political intrigue and dragons. At the same time, the series focuses more on family relationships. The dark atmosphere, coupled with strong acting performances (including from Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke and Matt Smith), makes "House of the Dragon" an exciting addition to the Westeros universe. Production of the third season is currently underway. We are excited to see what else the series has to offer in the future.