Dexter Sol Ansell
Dave Benett/WireImage
HBO has found its Dunk and Egg.
The network has cast actors for the lead roles of its Game of Thrones prequel series Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.
Peter Claffey (Vikings: Valhalla) and Dexter Sol Ansell (who recently portrayed Young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) have been cast.
The logline: “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 project is written and executive produced by George R.R. Martin and Ira Parker. Executive produced by Ryan Condal, Vince Gerardis, Owen Harris, and Sarah Bradshaw.
The project represents a different kind of Westeros tale than Thrones or House of the Dragon. The other shows are sweeping war epics with sprawling ensemble casts that take place in multiple locations. The Dunk and Egg stories are more intimate two-handers with a bit of a lighter tone.
The Hedge Knight project was one of several put into development in hopes of adding to the company’s post-GoT arsenal. Others are still in active development. The move follows the hugely successful launch of Dragon, which generated 29 million viewers per episode, according to HBO, and returns this summer. The Hedge Knight is expected to air sometime in 2025.