A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Showrunner Explains the Big Difference With Game of Thrones That Fans Will Instantly Notice

The showrunner of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has explained 1 of the large differences with the different 2 Game of Thrones series.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, owed retired connected HBO Max successful January 2026, adapts George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novella trilogy, itself a prequel to Game of Thrones acceptable 90 years earlier the events of the main books.

It's a important merchandise for HBO Max, but it differs from Game of Thrones and anterior spinoff House of the Dragon successful a fig of cardinal ways, 1 of which volition beryllium definite to spark an instant absorption from fans.

Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows:

As elaborate by Entertainment Weekly, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms does not person an opening rubric sequence. This is peculiarly astonishing fixed Game of Thrones’ iconic opening sequence, which is embedded successful the representation of an service of fans.

Instead, arsenic EW described it, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has “a elemental rubric paper with medieval typography successful betwixt the opening enactment of each episode.”

Showrunner Ira Parker said the determination was made owed to the benignant of amusement A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is and who its characters, Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg, are.

“All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to transmission the benignant of idiosyncratic helium is into each facet of this show, adjacent the rubric sequence," Parker explained.

“The rubric sequences connected the archetypal [Game of Thrones] and House of the Dragon are large and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi’s people is orchestral and ample and beautiful. That's not truly Dunk’s M.O. He’s plain and he’s elemental and he’s to-the-point. He doesn't person a batch of flash to him.”

Don’t expect dragons and a big, magical standard to this show, either. “Nobody's reasoning astir magic,” Parker said. “This could fundamentally beryllium 14th period Britain. This is hard nose, grind it out, gritty, medieval knights, acold with a truly light, hopeful touch. It's a fantastic spot to be. We are crushed up successful this series, we are starting close astatine the bottom. We're not with the lords and ladies, the kings and queens."

In March this year, House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal called Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin’s criticisms of the series’ 2nd play “disappointing.”

Drama successful the Game of Thrones satellite began erstwhile Martin promised to dive into “everything that’s gone incorrect with House of the Dragon” successful August past year. It’s a committedness helium kept, going connected to telephone retired crippled elements related to Aegon and Helaena’s children arsenic helium expressed interest for however aboriginal seasons of the amusement mightiness play out. The station was yet removed from the author’s website without mentation but not earlier thousands of fans — and HBO — caught upwind of the grievances it presented.

But Martin sounds a batch much enthusiastic astir A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms than House of the Dragon — Martin teased earlier this twelvemonth that helium couldn’t hold to spot Dunk and Egg’s communicative travel to TV screens.

“I’ve seen each six episodes present (the past 2 successful unsmooth cuts, admittedly), and I loved them," Martin said successful a blog station successful January. "Dunk and Egg person ever been favorites of mine, and the actors we recovered to represent them are conscionable incredible. The remainder of the formed are terrific arsenic well. Wait until you guys conscionable the Laughing Storm and Tanselle Too-Tall.”

Martin continued to observe A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, adding: “It’s arsenic faithful an adaptation arsenic a tenable antheral could anticipation for (and you each cognize however incredibly tenable I americium connected that peculiar subject).”

Despite Martin’s towering praise, we’ve seen small from the amusement since it was announced successful 2021. After locking successful actors Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell to play Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg, respectively, HBO went connected to uncover 1 representation from the amusement successful June 2024. A little teaser trailer followed successful August, showing a glimpse astatine immoderate of the series’ large players and a fewer shots of acquainted Game of Thrones action.

House of the Dragon Season 3, meanwhile, is acceptable for merchandise aboriginal summertime 2026. In a abstracted interrogation with Deadline, June was suggested.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].