George R.R. Martin Maps Out Future for Dunk & Egg Series
Showrunner Ira Parker shares how George R.R. Martin’s hands-on approach is shaping the new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set to debut on January 18.
George R.R. Martin has a bit of a reputation for being picky about how his stories are adapted for the screen. He’s not shy about voicing his thoughts, especially when it comes to changes made in shows like House of the Dragon. But when it comes to the upcoming spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, showrunner Ira Parker says Martin’s been nothing but encouraging and involved.
Parker recalls,
‘George has been such a wonderful partner in this,’
during a roundtable chat. He spent a week in Santa Fe with Martin and a few of his favourite writers, tossing around ideas and working out what the first season might look like. Parker says the sessions were full of unexpected twists and creative sparks, with Martin showing real enthusiasm for some of the new directions they were exploring.
Bringing Dunk and Egg to Life
The series draws from Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight, following the journey of Dunk, a hedge knight played by Peter Claffey, who’s trying to make a name for himself after his mentor’s passing. Dunk finds himself at a tournament, where he crosses paths with Egg, a keen young lad eager to become his squire, played by Dexter Sol Ansell.
Parker mentions that Martin was especially taken with the idea of introducing Lyonel Baratheon in a unique way.
‘I think he really loved the idea of the Baratheon tent and meeting Lyonel Baratheon in that capacity, which was wonderful,’
Parker says. The creative team also experimented with the look and feel of the show, including a bold approach to puppetry. Instead of sticking to the small hand puppets from the original story, they went for something more dramatic, almost reminiscent of War Horse, which came out of those brainstorming sessions.
Martin’s Creative Influence
Parker notes that working with Martin is always a rich experience, especially when they can pull him away from his other writing commitments.
‘It’s such a rich creative experience, any time that you get to have him [and] can pull him away from all his other writings, so we got along very well, and he’s only been a benefit to the show.’
Martin’s input has helped shape the tone and direction of the series, making sure it stays true to the spirit of the original stories while also bringing in fresh ideas.
The much-anticipated A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to premiere on January 18. Fans keen to keep up with the latest can check out the release schedule, or look ahead to see what other Game of Thrones projects are in the pipeline.