Games of Thrones: Tales of Dunk and Egg prequel series a go at HBO

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A three-eyed messenger raven named Variety has landed atop my window sill, bringing news that a series adaptation of “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” a prequel to the events of Game of Thrones, is in early development at HBO.

Presented using a one-hour format, the show will be based on the series of fantasy novellas by the "favorite character killer" himself, George R.R. Martin. The series revolves around the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and a young Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), and takes place 90 years prior to the events of “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

Martin has published three novels in the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” series so far: “The Hedge Knight” (1998), “The Sworn Sword” (2003), and “The Mystery Knight” (2010). In 2015, all three installments were combined and published under the title "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms."

For the moment, HBO has yet to assign a writer or other talents to the project, though it's to be understood that this is a high-priority project for the network, which for years enjoyed bathing in the spoils of its original Game of Thrones series.

Apparently, fans have been asking for a “Tales of Dunk and Egg” TV series adaptation for quite some time. Should the show be picked up to series, it would be the second Game of Thrones prequel headed to the small screen. The other project, of course, is House of the Dragon, which is scheduled for a 2022 debut.

House of the Dragon will be set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones and will track the beginning of the end for House Targaryen. The ten-episode series is based upon George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," a Targaryen history book which chronicles the history of House Targaryen, starting off with Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and [going on] to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold the throne, all the way up to the civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

It's worth noting that just because an adaptation of "Tales of Dunk and Egg" is in development it doesn't mean that concept will definitely go to series. Previously, Martin said that he has no interest in adapting the material, though his attitude appears to have changed.

Are you down for yet another Game of Thrones prequel series? Let us know if this franchise still excites you or if the final season of Game of Thrones took the bloom off your rose in the comments section below.

Source: Variety

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.