Game of Thronesauthor George R. R. Martin explains howA Knight of the Seven Kingdomswon’t be what audiences expect. Following the success ofHouse of the Dragon, the first HBO spinoff ofGame of Thrones, an adaptation of Martin’sTales of Dunk and Eggnovellas is now set to arrive later this year from showrunner Ira Parker.A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’storytakes place about a century before the events of the main show, chronicling the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).
In a recent interview withCollider, Martin reveals that he just recently met with Parker in London aboutA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and that he’s now seen all six episodes of theGame of Thronesprequel. He teases that the series will feature some key differences from the two Westeros shows that have been released so far, and that aseason 2 is already in the works. Check out his thoughts below:
“I’ve seen Dunk and Egg, the first season, and it’s great, and now they’re working on the second season. Those are two characters were really special to me, and they’re unusual, those characters. They’re not what most people would expect in a fantasy story. It’s a little softer. It’s a little more humorous. I hope the audience will be open to that kind of change.”
Martin also speaks more broadly about his experiences in the TV business, which has had its ups and downs sinceGame of Thronesfirst aired on HBO in 2011:
“It can be great, but, you know, like I said, this is a complicated business, and you really never know. It’s always changing too. A new writer starts a career and he’s doing a show, and he gets hired to do another show and a new showrunner comes in; the ratings are low, the ratings are high. I don’t know, I could do a whole course in having a career in television and film.”
Finally, Martin addresses how challenging adaptations can be, saying that, while some are fun to work on, “some of them are frustrating, and they become less fun.” For those who don’t like the adaptations, Martin says that “There’s always the books.” This prompts him to share an update onThe Winds of Winter, the long-awaited next novel in hisA Song of Ice and Fireseries. Read his comments below:
“You try to make the story as good as it can be, and some fans will like it, some fans will not like it. You’re always going to get criticism, but you’ve got to keep trying. You’ve got to try to do every one the best it can possibly be.
“There’s always the books, and I’m aware of that people think that— But no, I have to get back. I have to finish the books. That’s the one thing I’m completely in control of. There’s no budget limitations. There’s no other executives on the studio side that I have to please, or other writers with different views. The books are what I’m going to make them. And, I think the one I’m writing is coming pretty well, but I wish it would come faster.”
What Martin’s Update Means For A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
How The Spinoff Will Compare To Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
BothGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonhave epic in scope and scale. Like its predecessor, theHouse of the Dragoncastis sprawling and the action scenes range from intimate moments of violence to episode-long battle sequences with massive armies and fire-breathing dragons. From what’s been revealed aboutA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,audiences should expect a smaller-scale story from the upcoming spinoff as Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg travel Westeros.
7 Ways A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Will Be Very Different To Both Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the next Game of Thrones prequel, and it should be significantly different from the first two Westeros shows.
ThoughHouse of the Dragonfeatures some key differences fromGame of Thrones, the two shows are very similar tonally, with little humor to be found. Critically and in terms of viewership, this approach has been working.A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsleaning more into humor will mark an interesting first for the franchise, then, and one that could be divisive. WithHouse of the Dragonseason 3on the way, though, and the potential for additional seasons ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the upcoming spinoff could end up being a welcome change of pace.
Our Take On Martin’s A Knight Of The Seven Kingdom Comments
Now Could Be The Right Time For A New Take On Westeros
ThoughHouse of the Dragonreviewshave been positive so far, one could complain that it’s starting to feel like the later seasons ofGame of Thronesin the sense that it has become more about major action sequences, with the moments in between feeling just like stepping stones to the next battle.Early seasons ofGame of Thrones, by contrast, didn’t have the budget for massive battles, and it instead leaned into character drama and surprising narrative reveals and reversals. These early seasons are also widely considered some of the show’s best.
HBO executive Francesca Orsi recently revealed toTHRthatA Knight of the Seven Kingdomshas a budget of less than $10 million per episode.
Though there’s certainly fun to be had with major battle sequences, a smaller-scale story that prioritizes character drama could be just what theGame of Thronesfranchise needs right now. There will be two more seasons ofHouse of the Dragon, andA Knight of the Seven Kingdomscould be the perfect counterpoint to that show’s more grand storytelling.
