A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will break a major Game of Thrones tradition – creator explains why

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Ira Parker, a showrunner for the upcoming ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ series, has announced that the ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off will do something very different from what fans expect.

Coming to HBO Max in January 2026, this new series is a prequel to Game of Thrones, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s beloved Dunk and Egg stories.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Parker explained that the upcoming show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will not have the elaborate opening credits seen in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.

As a huge fan, I was really interested to hear how they approached the opening titles. Director Mark Parker explained they wanted everything to reflect the straightforward personality of Ser Duncan the Tall – Dunk, played by Peter Claffey. He said every choice, even for the title sequence, was made as if *he* were making it, really trying to get into Dunk’s head and stay true to who he is.

As a fan, I always loved how grand the opening credits were for both *Game of Thrones* and *House of the Dragon* – the music by Ramin Djawadi was just stunning! But the creator explained that wouldn’t really fit with the new show about Dunk and Egg. He said Dunk is a much more straightforward, no-frills character, so the opening sequence will reflect that – simpler and more direct, without a lot of flashy effects.

Parker explained that the decision to leave out the original Game of Thrones opening sequence was incredibly difficult. He emphasized it wasn’t made casually, but ultimately felt it was the right choice for their show.

Taking place roughly 90 to 100 years before the world of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms tells the story of Dunk and his clever young squire, Egg – secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen – as they journey across a land undergoing significant upheaval.

The story unfolds during the reign of the Targaryen dynasty, when dragons are still remembered by those who lived to see them. Within this world, a group of unlikely friends will face incredible challenges, formidable enemies, and embark on perilous adventures.

In January, the author, Martin, stated that the spin-off show is a very accurate adaptation of the source material.

He shared in a blog post that he’s watched all six episodes (though the final two were early cuts). He particularly enjoyed them, noting his long-time fondness for the characters Dunk and Egg, and praising the actors who play them as phenomenal. He also highlighted the strong performances from the entire cast, teasing viewers with the introduction of characters like the Laughing Storm and Tanselle Too-Tall.

He explained that ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ is based on ‘The Hedge Knight,’ the first story he wrote in that series. He believes it’s a very accurate adaptation – and, knowing his dedication to staying true to the source material, he’s confident fans will agree.

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2025-10-06 20:27