A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Release Date, Game of Thrones Timeline, and Everything You Need to Know
HBO has dropped the first trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, igniting fresh debate over where the new Game of Thrones spin-off fits in Westeros lore—and when it will finally hit screens.
HBO dropped the first trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and if you are trying to place this one on the ever-expanding Westerosi family tree, you are not alone. The lore is thick, the calendars are weird, and yes, this one sits in a different pocket than House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones. Here is where and when it happens, what the show is adapting, and who is involved.
The basics
- Timeline: Set in 209 AC, roughly a century before Game of Thrones (which kicks off in 298 AC) and decades after House of the Dragon (which concludes in 129 AC). Dragons are gone at this point, but the Targaryens still sit the Iron Throne.
- Release date: January 18, 2026, on HBO Max.
- Season size: Six episodes, with more seasons expected if all goes to plan.
Where this fits in the saga
Think of it as the middle chapter between your two big anchor shows. House of the Dragon ends with the Dance-era fallout in 129 AC. Jump forward to 209 AC, and that is where we pick up with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Keep going another ~90 years and you are at Game of Thrones. No fire-breathing chaos here; the dragons are history, but the Targaryen name still rules the Seven Kingdoms.
What the story actually is
The series adapts George R. R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. Season 1 is a close take on the first book, The Hedge Knight. It follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a down-on-his-luck hedge knight, and his squire Egg, who, minor spoiler from the books, is actually Aegon V Targaryen — yes, Daenerys Targaryen's grandfather before he ever gets near a crown.
Expect a smaller, dirt-under-the-nails adventure instead of continent-cracking wars and shadowy prophecy. It is more roadside inns, tourneys, and moral gray areas than dragon-on-dragon spectacle, which honestly sounds like a smart reset for this corner of the world.
Who is making it
Peter Claffey stars as Dunk, with Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. The cast also includes Sam Spruell, Daniel Ings, and Finn Bennett, among others. George R. R. Martin is back as co-producer and co-creator alongside Ira Parker. The first three episodes are reported to be directed by Owen Harris, who you probably know from standout episodes of Black Mirror.
Trailer is out, date is set, and the vibe is more grounded quest than apocalyptic prophecy. If Thrones lost you in the weeds, this one looks like a clean on-ramp back into Westeros.