The Empire Stage at New York Comic Con (NYCC) was electric on Thursday as HBO unveiled the official teaser for its highly anticipated new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The reveal, which sent a fresh wave of excitement through the dedicated fanbase, came during a packed panel for the series, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s beloved “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas.
Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones, the new original half-hour drama follows the endearing adventures of an unlikely duo: a young, naive, but courageous hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell). Their journey unfolds during an age when the Targaryen dynasty still reigns supreme and the memory of the last dragon remains fresh.
Dexter Sol Ansell and Peter Claffey Interview at New York Comic Con
The new original half-hour drama series is based on the beloved “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas by George R.R. Martin and is set a century before the events of Game of Thrones. It follows the endearing adventures of an unlikely duo: a young, naive, but courageous hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell). Moreover, their journey takes place in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still reigns supreme and the memory of the last dragon remains fresh in living memory.
Stars Claffey and Ansell spoke to journalists about stepping into the shoes of iconic characters created by the master storyteller himself, and what it was like when George R.R. Martin visited the set.
The King of Westeros Comes to Set
When asked how they handled Martin’s presence on set and whether it was intimidating, both actors expressed only warmth and awe.
Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays the young prince Egg, recalled a particularly encouraging moment with the author. “He was very nice and he said, ‘I literally jubbed out of the books and it was so nice to hear.’ And he made such motivation to us and he’s really, really, really nice and nice.”
For Peter Claffey, meeting the man behind A Song of Ice and Fire was a surreal experience. “Do you know when you see somebody? It’s like they’re so famous out here. They don’t feel real,” Claffey explained. “And then you actually see them in person. It’s like this complete… You’re like, ‘What?’ And then you’re talking to them and stuff. It was literally like that.”
A self-described “massive TV fan of Game of Thrones,” Claffey admitted the awareness of Martin’s stature was immense, but the reality was far more personable. “It was like I’m a massive TV fan of Game of Thrones. And I was like… And then obviously so aware of them. And then you find yourself meeting him.” The rapport even extended off-set: “We got to go for dinner with him that evening as well. That was lovely. We’re going tonight as well.”
Meeting Your Idols: Martin and Beyond
The conversation then broadened to the joy of meeting celebrated figures in the industry who turn out to be genuinely kind, using Martin as a prime example.
Claffey gushed about the experience: “It was amazing. It’s so nice. And the best thing as well is like… There’s a character, Plummer, who’s the master of the games. And he’s played by Tom Vaughan-Lawler, who is one of my icons of Irish acting.” Ansell chimed in that Vaughan-Lawler was very good. He was very funny.”
Claffey then tied the experience of meeting Martin to meeting other unexpected role models on set: “There’s one of these things where… When you meet these people that you’ve only ever seen and characters and different things. You’re like, ‘I wonder what they’re like?'”
He pointed to Vaughan-Lawler as an example of a performer famous for playing a “most horrible Irish gangster,” who, when you meet him, “is the sweetest, most lovely, kind person ever.” It’s a sentiment that rings true for the architect of Westeros as well.
“That is such a nice feeling when you meet people like him and people like George that you’re only ever told about,” Claffey concluded. “And then you get to meet them and they’re just really nice, down to earth people. It was mental. That’s just… I love him.”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is slated to premiere on HBO, bringing Dunk and Egg’s beloved adventures to life for a new generation of fans.
The six-episode season debuts Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
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