George R.R. Martin Says New GoT Prequel Will Have ‘A Much Different Tone’

The Game of Thrones spin-off titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight will be much different than its two predecessors in more ways than one, according to author George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones debuted on HBO in 2011, lasting for eight seasons until its divisive ending in 2019. The first spin-off, House of the Dragon, premiered in 2022, and is gearing up for its Season 2 run, which starts on June 16, 2024.

Writing on his website on May 21, 2024, Martin detailed that things are “moving along nicely” with The Hedge Knight, and that, in addition to Dexter Sol Ansell and Peter Claffey portraying the leads, more casting news could come any day now. He also added that the series will be different from both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon in terms of length and tone, but that no one is safe considering its storied setting. Check out his comments below.

“The Hedge Knight
will be a lot shorter than
Game of Thrones

or
House of the Dragon
,
with a much different tone
… but it’s still Westeros, so no one is truly safe. Ira Parker and his team are doing a great job.”

Martin would go on to add that three episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight will be directed by Owen Harris, whose previous credits include the highly-praised episode of Black Mirror, ‘San Junipero.’ The 75-year-old author called it his “all-time favorite episode” of the series.

“Oh, and we have our director as well: Owen Harris, a terrific British director whose credits include helming “San Junipero”,
my all-time favorite episode of


Black Mirror

. Owen will direct three of our six episodes.”

The Hedge Knight Takes Place a Century Before Game of Thrones

Set to debut in 2025, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight will be the second spin-off to come from Game of Thrones, following House of the Dragon. It was previously announced that two more projects were also in development, including the prequel series Bloodmoon, and an untitled series that would follow Kit Harrington’s beloved character of Jon Snow. Unfortunately, HBO never moved forward with Bloodmoon, and it was announced earlier this year that the Jon Snow spin-off had been canceled.

While House of the Dragon takes place roughly 200 years prior to the events in Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight moves the timeline a little closer, taking place a century before Game of Thrones begins as detailed in Martin’s novella series. While it doesn’t promise any epic dragon battles, it does boast lots of murder and intrigue as it follows the two main characters of Ser Duncan the Tall (Claffey) and Egg (Ansell). Check out the official synopsis below.

“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.”

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As of right now, there is no official date for the release of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, but as principal photography is set to begin next month, more details will be forthcoming later this year as filming progresses.