A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Cast & Character Guide

Summary

• TV spin-off “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” by G.R.R. Martin airs in 2025, giving insight to the Targaryen’s past.
• The show focuses on characters Dunk and Egg, with Peter Claffey portraying Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg.
• The cast includes Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen, Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen, Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen, Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, and Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon.

Poised for an HBO and Max release in 2025, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight marks the latest Game of Thrones TV spin-off. The six-part series created by revered author G.R.R. Martin will serve as a prequel to the events depicted in Game of Thrones, giving fans a fascinating glimpse into the Targaryen’s past. Adapted from Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novella series, the story takes place roughly 90 years before the events portrayed in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For those unfamiliar with the novels, an introduction to the main characters and talented cast of the new GoT prequel is in order. Although most of the drama centers on Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), a handful of other key characters are set to make their lasting mark when HBO unveils the expensive fantasy series in 2025. Here’s what to know about the cast and characters featured in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.

Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall

Peter Claffey portrays Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall, in the GoT prequel spinoff. Duncan escaped an impoverished life as a squire in Flea Bottom when Ser Arlen Pennytree recruited him, a Hedge Knight who took the boy around Westeros to serve various lords. As his name suggests, Dunk is extremely tall and physically strong. Yet despite his imposing stature, Dunk comports himself with honor and humility. Dunk climbs the ranks along their journey to become a Hedge Knight and replace the fallen Arlen.

Peter Claffey is a relative newcomer who logged his first acting credit in 2022. After appearing in single episodes of Harry Wild and Bad Sisters, Claffey portrayed the recurring character Cormac Kelly in the horror-comedy series Wreck. In addition to starring in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Claffey is set to play a nurse in the upcoming TV movie Compound Fractures.

Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg

Dexter Sol Ansell depicts Egg, Duncan’s main squire in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The future king Aegon V Targaryen, Egg’s coming-of-age and rite of passage will be explored in the new GoT prequel. Unlike the naive, humble, and uncertain Dunk, Egg is wise, confident, and far wittier than his 10-year-old age suggests. Likewise, Egg’s diminutive stature balances Dunk’s towering physique, making the two a complimentary pair.

Sol Ansell began his career in 2019, logging 14 episodes on the TV series Emmerdale Farm. Other notable credits include The Midwich Cuckoos, Christmas on Mistletoe Farm, The Moor, and Hullraisers. Most recently, Sol Ansell played Young Coriolanus in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. No stranger to period dramas, Sol Ansell will appear next in Robin and the Hoods and The 9th Heresy.

Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen

Finn Bennet plays Aeiron Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. A mad prince in the Targaryen dynasty, Aerion suffers delusions of grandeur in the belief he is a dragon in human form. Aerion is also the brother of Aegon, Aemon, Daeron, and the son of Maekar Targaryen and Dyanna Dane. As Dunk and Egg venture to Westeros, they inevitably deal with Aerion’s insanity.

Fresh off his performance as Peter Prior in HBO’s hit crime series True Detective: Night Country, Bennett has amassed 17 credits since 2010. The British-Irish actor can be seen in such TV shows as The Nevers, Liar, Domina, National Treasure: Kiri, and such movies as Hope Gap, Surge, and A Banquet. Following The Hedge Knight, Finn will star opposite Keira Knightley in the TV thriller Black Doves.

Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen

Sam Spruell depicts Prince Maekar Targaryen in the upcoming GoT prequel. Maekar is the fourth and youngest son of King Daeron II Targaryen and Queen Myriah Martell. Living in the shadow of his elder siblings, Maekar resents that his accomplishments go unnoticed by his family. Upon encountering Dunk and Egg, Maekar and his brother Baelor take different sides and intensify the conflict.

With roughly 80 acting credits thus far, Spruell is an experienced movie and TV actor. While perhaps best known for playing Finn in Snow White and the Huntsman, Spruell’s most memorable acting credits include Fargo, Doctor Who, The Last Ship, The Bastard Executioner, MI-5, Taken 3, Liar, The Settlers, The Gold, The Counselor, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, and more.

Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen

Bertie Carvel portrays Baelor Targaryen in The Hedge Knight. Also known as Breakspear, Bealor is the prized first son of King Daeron II Targaryen and Queen Myriah Martell. Baelor is also the brother of Maekar Targaryen, with whom he does not see eye to eye regarding Dunk and Egg’s presence. Baelor takes Dunk’s side when he attacks Aerion, while Maekar sides with his family.

With roughly 40 acting credits accrued since 2004, Carvel is an accomplished TV veteran who recently wrapped a dual role on Netflix’s hit period drama The Crown. Carvel also starred in Dalgliesh, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Sister, The Pale Horse, Baghdad Central, Coalition, Hidden, Babylon, Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned, and more. Carvel is also the voice of the male Imperial Agent in several Star Wars video games.

Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle

Tanzyn Crowford plays Tanselle in The Hedge Knight. Tanselle is a tall, Dornish puppeteer at the Tourney in Ashford who becomes a crucial character dividing the two warring factions. Tanselle is attacked by Aerion, forcing Dunk to protect her. Dunk’s action drives brothers Maekar and Baelor apart, with the former siding with Aerion and the latter siding with Dunk.

After making her screen debut in the 2020 film Alexander, Crawford has continued to raise her profile. She can be seen in the TV shows Servant, Tiny Beautiful Things, and Swift Street. Following The Hedge Knight, Crawford will star opposite Nick Offerman and Lake Bell in the medical drama Under the Lights.

Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon

Daniel Ings depicts Ser Lyonel Baratheon in The Hedge Knight. Also known as The Laughing Storm, Lyonel is the heir to Storm’s End during King Daeron II Targaryen’s time in power. Lyonel earned his nickname by laughing in the face of death during tournament battles, which he often dominates due to his hulking size and expert fighting skills. To climb the ranks and become the Hedge Knight, Dunk must contend with Lyonel Baratheon at some point.

A veteran British actor, Ings recently wrapped his standout turn as Freddy in Netflix’s crime drama The Gentlemen. Additional recurring TV credits include The Crown, The Winter King, Sex Education, I Hate Suzie, The Gold, Lovesick, Instinct, and Mount Pleasant. Ings also appeared in such movies as The Marvels, Eddie The Eagle, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.