George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire, has declared HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones spin-off, a remarkably faithful adaptation.
In a recent blog post, Martin revealed the six-episode series has completed production and is slated for release later this year, possibly in the fall. Unlike his previous involvement with House of the Dragon, he expresses enthusiastic approval.
"Having viewed all six episodes (the final two in rough cuts), I was thoroughly captivated," Martin wrote. "Dunk and Egg have always held a special place in my heart, and the actors portraying them are simply phenomenal. The entire cast delivers outstanding performances. Just wait until you meet the Laughing Storm and Tanselle Too-Tall!"
He elaborated on the series' faithfulness to The Hedge Knight, the first Dunk and Egg novella: "It's as true to the source material as one could reasonably expect (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that subject)."
However, Martin cautioned against expecting non-stop action. "While there's a thrilling, large-scale fight sequence, this installment lacks dragons, epic battles, and White Walkers," he explained. "It's character-driven, emphasizing duty, honor, and the essence of chivalry."
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon Targaryen (Egg). Although the premiere is still months away, HBO has already unveiled several images and a short teaser trailer.
Martin concluded his post with a playful acknowledgment of his ongoing work on The Winds of Winter: "Next up is adapting 'The Sworn Sword,' the second Dunk & Egg tale. And once The Winds of Winter is finished, I'll need to tackle 'The Village Hero' and the other stories awaiting these characters. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll all remind me."
