The Empire Stage at New York Comic Con (NYCC) erupted in cheers on Thursday as HBO unveiled the official teaser for the highly anticipated new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The excitement was palpable, but it was the stars’ charming off-screen dynamic that truly won over the packed room of fans.
Dexter Sol Ansell and Peter Claffey Interview at New York Comic Con
The new half-hour drama is set a century before the events of Game of Thrones and is based on George R.R. Martin’s beloved “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas. It follows the adventures of the towering, naive hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his diminutive, secretly royal squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). As their journey unfolds in an age when the Targaryen dynasty still reigns supreme, their bond is what anchors the story, and according to the actors, that on-screen chemistry was forged over a steady diet of arcade games, fast food, and chess.
Peter and Dexter on their off-screen friendship
When a journalist asked how they made their on-screen friendship feel so natural, the two actors immediately dove into the details of their off-set bonding routine.
“Pretty much the arcades,” Ansell (Egg) revealed. “We went like every weekend and we racked up our tickets. So now we’ve got thousands and thousands of tickets.”
Claffey (Dunk) confirmed their shared pastime, noting the convenience of their accommodation. “So lucky we’re staying quite close to this big place, the arcades, cinema, Five Guys, Nando’s,” Claffey said. He quickly added, “I needed to start going to Nando’s because I was getting a bit burger-bellied. Dexter loves Five Guys.”
Ansell’s love for the burger joint is specific: “I love the milkshakes. I always get Oreo crumbs and peanut butter, it’s the best.”
Playing Chess was part of their bonding routine
Beyond the late-night sugar rushes, Claffey explained that the simple act of spending time together was the key. “But we just spent a bit of time together… And we just come up and we work two lines together. We played a lot of chess.”
“We played a lot of chess,” Ansell confirmed, leading to a friendly admission from Claffey: “And I beat you the first time and then he beat me every single time, which is fairly self-explanatory.”
Ansell went on to describe why the relationship between Dunk and Egg works so well, a description that mirrored the actors’ own dynamic. “Because they’re so different people that you wouldn’t think they would really get along,” Ansell said. “But when you actually put them together… Egg’s learning so many different things from Duncan, Dunk’s learning so many different things from Egg, it kind of works.”
Claffey summed up the central theme of their bond beautifully: “There’s a symbiosis of knowledge and navigation through this world… it’s a really lovely relationship to play on screen as well, for sure.”
“Peter Was My Favorite,” says Dexter Sol Ansell of their chemistry read
The actors also shared an anecdote about their initial chemistry read that suggests their connection was destined from the start.
Ansell was asked about reading with other potential Dunks before Claffey was cast. “Yes, I was in [the casting director’s] office and there were so many different Dunks, but Peter was my favorite,” the young star announced to a round of “awws” from the audience. “And I really wanted him to get the job… I was like, if Peter doesn’t get the job, I’m going to be really annoyed.”
Claffey, clearly touched, returned the compliment, praising Ansell’s immediate command of the role. “He’s got this control of this charisma and stuff,” Claffey said. “I feel like they were just probably trying to like Dexter was always Egg. They’re probably just trying to find the right Dunk.”
Claffey concluded by reflecting on Ansell’s talent: “There’s a regalness about Dexter that he brings, but also a kind of carefree, childlike, of course, innocence. That is just perfect. And it’s been an honor.”
With the highly anticipated teaser reveal and the undeniable connection between its two leading men, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already shaping up to be a compelling and heartwarming addition to the Westeros saga.
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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