The next “Game of Thrones” spinoff has found its lead actors for the upcoming series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight”…
The next major “Game of Thrones” spinoff has found its lead actors.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight” — based on a series of novellas by George R.R. Martin called “The Tales of Dunk and Egg” — has cast Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in the lead roles for the series.
Claffey — best known for his work in the Apple TV series “Bad Sisters” and the upcoming film “Small Things Like These” where he stars opposite Oscar winner Cillian Murphy — will play Duncan the Tall aka Dunk.
Ansell — who started acting at just 4-years-old and portrayed Young Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” — will play Aegon V Targaryen aka Egg.
Here’s the official synopsis for the upcoming series:
“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”
The original books detail Aegon becoming a squire for Duncan the Tall despite his royal bloodline because at the time he didn’t seem anywhere close to the line of succession to become king. Instead after adopting the nickname Egg, he decides he wants to become a knight and so he begins squiring for Duncan the Tall, who was a lowborn orphan that grew up in Flea Bottom before he eventually became a squire before graduating to gain his knighthood.
Through a series of events, Duncan ends up taking on Egg as his squire for a tournament, unaware at the time that he was a member of the Targaryen family. Eventually, Duncan takes on Egg as his full time squire, schooling and teaching him to become a knight as the travel Westeros together getting into adventures.
The series takes place many years before “Game of Thrones” but there is one connection that will be recognizable for fans of the original series. Aegon aka Egg’s brother is Aemon Targaryen, who would go onto become Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch. When Maester Aemon passed away during the events in “Game of Thrones” season 5, he talks to “Egg” on his death bed as he shares a conversation with his late brother before joining him in the afterlife.
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight” is written and executive produced by George R.R. Martin and Ira Parker.
There’s no word yet when production might start on the “Game of Thrones” spinoff but with casting obviously underway, it’s likely shooting could begin sometime later this year.
