A new "Game of Thrones" prequel, set a century before the events of HBO's once-juggernaut is set to drop this weekend.
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" takes place between the "two shows that everyone has seen and that everyone loves ("Game of Thrones," "House of Dragon") in a time where Targaryens don't have their dragons anymore," co-creator and showrunner Ira Parker had said during theofficial teaser launchduring a panel at New York Comic Con in Oct. 25.
Parker added the Targaryens, in the upcoming show, are "very much on the decline," and find themselves in this "weird middle place."
"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 series' synopsis says.
During this time, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: "a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg." The series is an adaptation of author and co-creatorGeorge R. R. Martin's "Tales of Dunk and Egg" novellas.
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A story of 'small folk'
While "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has no shortage of lords and nobles, it mostly centers on common people,Martinsaid onHBO Max's Official Game of Thrones Podcast released Jan. 12.
"I wanted to tell a story that focused to some extent on the small folk, as I call them, on the people who are not lords, they were not contending, they weren't even going to get the iron throne unless everybody else in Westeros died," Martin explained, adding: "The knights were soldiers in service to their lords. And they're like killing machines."
USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawlergave theseries ★½ out of four, writing "'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'is a gross miscalculation on the part of HBO. Emphasis on 'gross'."
"Forget the dragons, war, incest and epic betrayal of the first spinoff, "House of the Dragon," this show has nothing to do with the wars of wannabe kings and queens," Lawler wrote in her review. "This one is about a regular old guy, a hedge knight in the plebeian population of Westeros, just trying to get by in a world that isn't kind to the common and poor."
Here's what to know about the "Game of Thrones" prequel "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and how to watch.
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When does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' premiere?
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will premiere on Sunday, Jan. 18 on HBO at 10 p.m. ET / PT and will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time with new episodes dropping weekly on Sundays.
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How to watch 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'
The six-episode season will air on HBO at 10 p.m. ET / PT on Sundays and will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time.
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'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' cast
The cast of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," according to HBO Max, includes:
Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg
Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen
Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree
Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen
Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway
Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen
Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway
Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle
Henry Ashton as Daeron Targaryen
Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer
Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion
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Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' release date, time, cast, more
