Summary
HBO is expanding theGame of Thronesuniverse with a story about two niche characters that have a basis in George R. R. Martin’s novellas. The key characters, i.e., the Hedge Knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and Aegon/ Egg are mentioned inA Song of Ice and Fireseries. They appear inThe Hedge Knight -the prequel novella to Martin’sASOIAF, and the source material of HBO’s latest.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis set 90 years before the events ofThrones. As HBO prepares to bring a third live-actionGame of Thronesinstallment to life in 2025, there remains the question of who will play Ser Duncan the Tall, Egg, Baelor, Maekar, and the rest. Here is the latest in the casting ofA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Peter Claffey As Ser Duncan the Tall
Irish actor Peter Claffey shines in the first-look photo asSer Duncan the Tall. Those remotely familiar with the Dunk and Egg lore will know that Duncan is a wandering knight who seeks participation in the Ashford Tourney. Lord Ashford’s steward is dubious about the claims of Dunk’s knighthood, but Prince Baelor Targaryen comes to his aid.
Claffey was previously seen in an episode of the Irish comedy series,Bad SistersandVikings: Valhalla. He has the lead role inA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsand swings the sword quite well in the first-look footage of Max’s 2024-2025 slate.
Dexter Sol Ansell As Egg Or Prince Aegon Targaryen
Dexter Sol Ansell plays the second main character, Egg inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Ansell is known for playing David Saunders in the TV series -The Midwich Cuckoos, and Buster in the 2022 British Christmas comedy -Christmas on Mistletoe Farm,among others.
Ansell’s Prince Aegon (identity concealed as Egg) seeks out Dunk, after seeing him at an inn while traveling to Ashford. The first time, Egg pleaded to be taken as a squire, Dunk turned him down. When Egg approached the Hedge Knight the second time at Ashford grounds, he assumed his name ‘Dunk’ was short for Duncan, and the latter agreed, saying, he was “Ser Duncan the Tall.”
Prince Aegon calls himself Egg and claims he’s from King’s Landing, leading Duncan to believe the boy might be an orphan. Dunk finally takes Egg into his service as a squire for the duration of Ashford, blithely unaware of the boy’s identity. After the events at Ashford, Egg’s father, Maekar, allows him to be atHedge Knight Dunk’s service as his squire, and together they set off on adventures.
Tanzyn Crawford As Tanselle
Tanzyn Crawford plays the puppeteer Tanselle, who is also known as Tanselle Too-Tall and the puppet girl. Crawford’s acting credits include a role in M. Night Shyamalan’s APPLE + TV seriesSERVANT, and playing Rae Kincade in the 2023 dramaTiny Beautiful Thingshas been cited as her breakthrough role.
Crawford’s Tanselle is at Ashford grounds with puppeteers, performing narratives aboutNymeria and the 10,000 ships, Florian and Jonquil, and a harmless show about dragons that lands them in trouble. Aerion attacks Tanselle and her folks on the first night of the tourney over this puppetry involving a dragon’s death, citing treason as the reason.
Aerion’s younger brother, Prince Aegon, disguised as Egg, reports to Ser Duncan, and the latter rushes to Tanselle’s aid. Duncan strikes Aerion for hurting Tanselle’s finger and is arrested by the royal men. At this point, Egg reveals his true identity to protect Ser Duncan, and the matter comes to the attention of the senior Targaryens.
Sam Spruell As Maekar I Targaryen
Renowned British actor Sam Spruell plays Prince Maekar Targaryen, who later ascends the Iron Throne as Maekar I. Spruell is known for movies such asThe Hurt Locker,Snow White and the Huntsman, and TV series such asMayday,Doctor WhoandFargo.
Spruell will be seen as Maekar - the father of Princes Daeron, Aerion, Aemon, and Aegon inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Because of Maekar’s eldest lying sons, Daeron and Aerion, Prince Baelor is forced to approve a Trial by Seven to settle the dispute between their camp and Ser Duncan. Maekar and six more fight against Duncan’s party, and he delivers a death blow to Baelor’s head in the trial.
Finn Bennett As Aerion Targaryen
Actor Finn Bennett is an HBO alum and is memorable for his role as Officer Peter Prior in season 4 of the crime drama anthology -True Detective: Night Country. Bennett is slated to return to HBO as Prince Aerion Targaryen in the network’s popularGame of Thronesfranchise.
Also known asAerion the Monstrous and Aerion Brightflame, Maekar’s second son is unhinged, unmannerly, and uncivil. Maekar attends Ashford to watch his eldest two, Daeron and Aerion, participate in the tourney, but they bring him shame. Daeron drinks like a fish before the Tourney, and Aerion kills his opponent’s horse in the joust. Aerion also attacks Tanselle and her group, leading to Duncan’s intervention and the drama with the Targaryens. Prince Aerion is frequently cited as an example of theTargaryen madness that plagued the Housedue to centuries of coupling brothers and sisters.
Henry Ashton As Daeron Targaryen
English actor Henry Ashton’s television credits include Amazon Prime’sMy Lady Janeand the BBC’s thrillerA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. He plays Maekar’s eldest son, Prince Daeron Targaryen orDaeron the Drunken, who will sit out most of the trial after giving a false account against the Hedge Knight. Daeron shaves Prince Aegon’s head and gets drunk at the same inn where Dunk walks in. Daeron is famous for having Targaryen/ prophetic dreams, and he tells Duncan that he had dreamt of him.
To explain his absence, Daeron places the blame on Duncan. He tells Maekar that he spent time searching for a robber knight (Duncan) who kidnapped Prince Aegon. Daeron apologizes to Duncan and assures him that he will withdraw from the trial after the first charge. As promised, he stays on the ground after being unhorsed by Ser Robin Rhysling.
Bertie Carvel As Prince Baelor Targaryen
Acclaimed British theater and film actor Bertie Carvel is cast as Prince Baelor Targaryen. Carvel won a Tony award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as the media proprietor Rupert Murdoch inInk. He was inDoctor FosterandDalglieshand has been twice bestowed with the Laurence Olivier Award.
Carvel plays the valiant Prince Baelor Targaryen, who vouches for Duncan’s Knighthood and, later, sides with him in theTrial of Sevenagainst his nephews and brother Maekar. Prince Baelor is Daeron II’s heir to the throne but meets his end in this trial, as Maekar strikes his head with a mace.
Daniel Ings As Lyonel Baratheon
English actor Daniel Ings, known forLovesickwill play a supporting character named Lyonel Baratheon inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Known as “the Laughing Storm” in lore, Lyonel is the heir to Storm’s End and a ferocious knight during the time of King Daeron II Targaryen. At Egg’s request, he sides with Baelor in the Trial of Seven.
Lyonel Baratheon is remembered for laughing loudly at his opponents, hence the name Laughing Storm. He does his duty to King Aegon V (Egg) inGame of Throneslore, and interestingly, the crown prince, Duncan Targaryen, casts one of his daughters aside to marryJenny of Oldstones.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
