HBO’s nextGame of Thronesspinoff is going to be something of a shake-up for the fantasy franchise, and that should mostly be to its benefit. So far, the network has taken a relatively cautious approach to its expansion, at least in contrast to many other major franchises, with just one spinoff series having made it to air so far. They’re being patient with it, which makes sense after the backlash toGame of Thrones' ending, and is hopefully the right approach.
That caution also extends to the kinds of spinoffs they’ve made so far: that is, sticking close toGame of Thrones.House of the Dragon, while telling its own story with theDance of the Dragons, is very much in-keeping with what worked previously. It’s ambitious in its own right thanks to its scope, but hardly a surprising choice nor success. Things will be different with thenextGame of Thronesspinoff, however, which is coming up later in 2025.
Game Of Thrones' Next Spinoff Being Very Different Is A Good Thing
The Franchise Needs To Branch Out
HBO’s formula forGame of Thronesworks, and the results can be spectacular, butthere’s much more to Martin’s world than these epic, action-packed, dragon-filled stories about Great Houses and the Iron Throne. That’s exactly the purposeThe Tales of Dunk and Eggnovellas serve, and it’ll be true ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' storytoo. The show follows Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight, and his squire, Egg, on their journeys around Westeros. Season 1, which adapts the first novella, is set during the tourney at Ashford, where Dunk has an unfortunate run-in with a Targaryen prince.
7 Ways A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Be Very Different To Both Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the next Game of Thrones prequel, and it should be significantly different from the first two Westeros shows.
The Dunk and Egg stories are not only much lighter in tone, shorter in length, and less epic in scale, but they also put their focus elsewhere: instead of characters from noble houses, the main hero is a hedge knight who comes from nothing. While there’s more to his newfound companion, Egg, than meets the eye, he is still just a child, and it creates a humorous Lone Wolf and Cub-esque dynamic. As Martin himself said aboutA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms[viaCollider]:
“I’ve seen Dunk and Egg, the first season, and it’s great, and now they’re working on the second season. Those are two characters were really special to me, and they’re unusual, those characters.They’re not what most people would expect in a fantasy story. It’s a little softer. It’s a little more humorous. I hope the audience will be open to that kind of change.”
Martin’s novellas are a wonderful accompaniment toA Song of Ice and Fire, in part because they’re different. The same should be true ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It can highlight that there’s much more to this world beyond stories and characters similar to those inGame of Thrones;when you get down to the hedge knights and the smallfolk, while they may not be wealthy, they’re every bit as rich.
Any major franchise must diversify the types of stories it tells - we’ve seen it with juggernauts like the MCU and Star Wars - and Thrones should be no exception.
Any major franchise must diversify the types of stories it tells - we’ve seen it with juggernauts like the MCU andStar Wars- andThronesshould be no exception.My major concern is whether as many people will tune in to a show that doesn’t have that epic feel or the same iconography, as it could be seen as less important or worthy of viewing time, and I really hope that’s not the case. But in terms of quality, there’s no denying this is an exciting prospect.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Benefit House Targaryen
It Will Add Even More To Their History & Lore
Although it’s a different kind of story,A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsdoes have Targaryens- lots of them, in fact. Dunk’s interactions with the family are a core part of the first book and, thus, the first season, and it’ll be a chance to highlight the many different sides to the family. There will be some who are detestable and vicious, not dissimilar to, say, Viserys Targaryen fromGame of Thrones, but also those who are truly decent and just.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsseason 1 does not have a release date yet, but is expected to release on HBO and Max in late-2025.House of the Dragonseason 3is then expected to return sometime in 2026.
It can also add more context, examples, and weight to things like dragon dreams, which do play a part in this story. Likewise,House Targaryen’s historyunfolds through the pages of Dunk and Egg, and should be the same in the TV show. Key events such as the Blackfyre Rebellion hang over the narrative, and it means theGame of Thronesfranchise can further flesh these out on screen even without showing them. It can have a very different core story, and yet still expand the lore and history of the world in fascinating ways, which makes this a win-win.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
Cast
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is set in a time when the Targaryen dynasty rules Westeros.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
