New Look at Long-Awaited ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff Confirms Snowy Release Date

The long-awaited Game of Thrones spinoff based on George R. R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight is officially on the way. HBO is set to release the next chapter of the popular fantasy franchise early next year, just in time for winter.

HBO has released a new look at A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which confirms that the series will debut on the platform in January. As seen in the poster, the show follows two “unlikely heroes,” Ser Duncan the Tall, played by Peter Claffey (Wreck), and his squire, Egg, who is portrayed by Dexter Sol Ansell (The Moor). The Seven Kingdoms take place 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, as a Targaryen sits on the Iron Throne. You can check out the poster below, which has the tagline, “This Winter, Spring is Coming.”

In addition to Claffey and Sol Ansel, the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen, Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen, Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, and Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen. George R. R. Martin, who has not been shy about his excitement for the latest Game of Thrones series, executive produces the spinoff alongside showrunner Ira Parker (The Last Ship, House of the Dragon). Read the official plot synopsis:

A century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… 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.

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Won’t Use This Iconic Part of ‘Game of Thrones’

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, subtitled The Hedge Knight, will not be borrowing one of the most iconic parts of the original Game of Thrones series. The franchise is known for featuring “big and epic” title sequences, which also extends to House of the Dragon. However, HBO is going a different route for the Seven Kingdoms, forgoing the sequence altogether for a simple title card. According to showrunner Ira Parker, the decision to not use an extensive title opening harkens back to the kind of protagonist audiences will meet in Dunk.

“All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to channel the type of person he is into every aspect of this show, even the title sequence. The title sequences on the original [Game of Thrones] and House of Dragon are big and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi’s score is orchestral and large and beautiful. That’s not really Dunk’s M.O. He’s plain and he’s simple and he’s to-the-point. He doesn’t have a lot of flash to him.”

The latest Game of Thrones show might be set in Westeros, but audiences should expect a more muted and less fantastical kind of series that puts the focus on its lead characters. While House of the Dragon treads very familiar territory, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms looks to change the pace with a less involved affair. Fortunately, every indication thus far points to an exciting installment in the franchise, especially since George R.R. Martin has already hinted that more seasons are already in the works.