George R.R. Martin has unveiled plans for an expansive series of Dunk & Egg stories, potentially adding as many as 12 new novellas to the existing three already published. These outlines were shared with Ira Parker, the creator and showrunner of HBO’s upcoming series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, indicating a promising future for the franchise.
Parker revealed that Martin provided around 10 to 12 outlines that could chronicle the lives of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, throughout their adventures. Should HBO adopt a format of one novella per season, this could result in a run for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that rivals or even surpasses the original Game of Thrones series, which concluded after eight seasons. The current production of House of the Dragon, which is set for four seasons, shows the network’s commitment to extending Martin’s universe.
“Right now, we’re focused on one, and we’ll see how the world responds to that,” Parker said. “We’re making two at the moment. Hopefully, everybody likes it and we get to keep doing these. I love writing in this world, and it’s a wonderful story.”
Martin’s intentions have evolved over time as he has discussed writing Dunk & Egg tales. In 2014, he shared on his LiveJournal blog his aspiration to create a series chronicling the characters’ lives, increasing his passage count over the years. The current indications, however, bring the tally to as many as 15 novellas if all outlined stories come to fruition.
Martin plans to start writing the fourth novella once he completes The Winds of Winter, the much-anticipated next book in A Song of Ice and Fire. He has expressed enthusiasm for continuing the Dunk & Egg saga, indicating in January 2025 that he would tackle both The Village Hero and other stories that await exploration.
Set around a century before the events of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms revolves around the Tales of Dunk and Egg and will kick off with an adaptation of The Hedge Knight. A second season based on The Sworn Sword is already underway, with a potential third season likely to adapt The Mystery Knight.
Despite not being credited as a writer on individual episodes of the first season, Martin has a collaborative relationship with Parker. Their partnership has been productive, with Parker emphasizing that he ensures only material Martin approves is included in the show. This close collaboration has been described by Parker as one of the most fulfilling aspects of his career.
The series adopts a different tone compared to the more conflict-driven narratives of Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. Instead, it focuses on personal growth and self-doubt, reflecting a perspective aligned with Martin’s own views on character development.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to premiere on January 18 on HBO and OSN+ in the Middle East, with fans eagerly anticipating the new adventures of Dunk and Egg.