Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer drops, Jan 18 debut

TL;DR:

• First trailer launched at New York Comic Con on Oct 9, 2025.
  
• Premiere date is Jan 18, 2026 on HBO and Max.
  
• Season 1 adapts “The Hedge Knight,” six episodes total.
  
• Stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg.
  
• Smaller, character-first tone set a century before Game of Thrones.

HBO unveiled the first trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms during a New York Comic Con panel on Oct 9, 2025, confirming a Jan 18, 2026 premiere on HBO and Max. The six episode season adapts George R. R. Martin’s novella “The Hedge Knight.”

The panel featured stars Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell with co creators George R. R. Martin and showrunner Ira Parker. Media briefings after the drop framed the show as a more intimate, grounded story in Westeros.

Release date and where to watch

HBO set the U.S. premiere for Sunday, Jan 18, 2026. Expect weekly drops on HBO and streaming on Max, following the network’s standard roll out. Multiple outlets reported the date alongside the trailer reveal at NYCC.

Quick facts

What the story covers

Season 1 follows Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall, a lowborn hedge knight, and his young squire Egg as they head to a tourney at Ashford Meadow. The tale is smaller in scope, focused on travel, scrapes, and choices that shape both men and the realm. That tone is clear from the trailer and press notes from the panel.

How it fits the Thrones timeline

This story sits nearly a century before Game of Thrones and decades after House of the Dragon. Targaryens rule, dragons are gone from the skies, and politics simmer beneath pageantry. The show aims for a street level view of Westeros during a quieter but tense era.

Cast and characters

Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall. Dexter Sol Ansell plays Prince Aegon Targaryen, known as Egg. Reported series regulars include Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen, Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen, Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen, and Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon. Trade coverage tied these roles to the teaser roll out.

Episode count and structure

Season 1 runs six episodes. Creators say the focus is character first, with humor, grit, and a road story vibe. Think duels, small stakes that grow, and a tourney where pride and oaths clash. Outlets covering the panel and trailer emphasized that shift from court intrigue to a boots on the ground tale.

What to look for in the trailer

• Dunk’s oversized helm and patched armor, signaling lowborn roots.
  
• Egg’s shaved head, a hint at hidden identity.
  
• Banners for Houses Baratheon and Targaryen at Ashford, teasing rivalries.
  
• Tourney grounds with dust, tents, and close quarter duels instead of grand battles.
  

Why it matters

The Thrones world returns without needing deep lore to follow it. New viewers can start here. Long time fans get canonical tales that seed events leading to the main saga. The smaller scale could widen the audience that found prior series too dense or brutal.

Background if you are new

The show adapts Martin’s “Dunk and Egg” novellas. These are beloved for clean plots, warm humor, and sharp character work. They bridge the mythic past of dragons and the cynical politics to come. Season 1 covers the first novella, setting up later adventures if renewed.

What happens next

Marketing will ramp through late 2025 with more clips and likely a longer trailer. Expect featurettes on Dunk’s code, tourney etiquette, and the knightly orders of the era. If the show hits, later seasons could adapt “The Sworn Sword” and “The Mystery Knight.” Coverage today pointed to that plan in broad terms.

Viewer checklist

• Mark Jan 18, 2026 on your calendar.
  
• Rewatch House of the Dragon for Targaryen context, optional but helpful.
  
• Read “The Hedge Knight” for a fast primer.
  
• Expect a lighter touch, smaller stakes, and road adventure beats.
  
• Do not expect dragons, expect tourneys and duels.

FAQs

Is this connected to House of the Dragon?
Same world, different era, no prior viewing required.

Will there be dragons?
No, at least not in Season 1. This period remembers dragons more than it sees them.

How many seasons are planned?
HBO has announced only Season 1. Further seasons would adapt later novellas if greenlit.

Who is behind the camera?
Showrunner Ira Parker steers Season 1, with Martin as co creator. Directors announced across the season shape the grounded tone shown in the teaser.

Sources:

• The Hollywood Reporter, First trailer for Game of Thrones spinoff drops at NYCC, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-trailer-hbo-1236396048/, Oct 9, 2025
  
• The Verge, HBO’s next Game of Thrones spinoff premieres in January, https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/797762/hbo-a-knight-of-seven-kingdoms-trailer-release-date, Oct 9, 2025
  

Entertainment Weekly, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer revealed, https://ew.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-trailer-game-of-thrones-11826831, Oct 9, 2025