By The second season of HBO’s hit series House of the Dragon starring Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith and Olivia Cooke has just finished filming a few weeks ago for a 2024 release. There are more Game of Thrones projects in the works, and one would think they are very far away from now, but after months of silence, the previously announced Dunk & Egg series with the working title A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight seems to have begun castings its two leads.
Casting Dunk & Egg
Renowned UK casting director Lucy Bevan (The Batman, Barbie, Death on the Nile, Cruella) published a casting call for two leading roles in an upcoming HBO series. The series isn’t named, but from the role descriptions, it can’t be mistaken for anything else. These two are definitely Aegon V Targaryen and Duncan the Tall.
BOY: Aged 9-10. Physically small, the character is wise beyond his years, confident and witty. He has a neutral English accent, and is white with blue/green eyes and pale skin. Must be under 4’6 (137cm) and at least 9 years old by March 2024 for licensing.
SOLDIER: Aged 18-25. The soldier is very tall and physically strong. He has a humble disposition and is perceptive and thoughtful. Any ethnicity. Must be at least 6’4 (193cm).
Finally, the casting call notes that filming will take place already in 2024, meaning the project is closer than we thought.
UPDATE: Filming hopefully starting Spring 2024
November 2 update: HBO executive Casey Bloys confirmed that the Dunk & Egg prequel hopes to begin filming in Spring 2024.
With the production likely being smaller that House of the Dragon and with fewer episodes and no dragons or major battles, it will likely be done much quicker for a possible 2025 release.
Crew and story details of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
The description for the series reads: “A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. 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.”
As previously reported, the showrunner for the Dunk & Egg series is Ira Parker, who wrote Episode 4 of House of the Dragon Season 1 titled “King of the Narrow Sea“. House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal is also attached to produce the new series.
What’s more interesting is that George RR Martin himself will be writing on this show. His last Westeros-related TV episode was in Game of Thrones Season 4, the one where Joffrey Baratheon had his Purple Wedding and a dry pie.
Martin himself stated that the first season will likely consist of six episodes, although at the time of him writing that in April 2023, that wasn’t set in stone.
Martin also revealed back then that the first season will adapt the first novella: The Hedge Knight. There are two more novellas already published: The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight, so with luck, this series may have at least three solid seasons. After that, we’ll have to wait and see.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is in post-production for an expected 2024 release. Do follow Redanian Intelligence for news on House of the Dragon and other fantasy series and check out our Discord server to join the conversation or if you have any leaks or insights to share.
