HBO confirms new ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off will have impressive battles despite smaller budget

HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will feature battle sequences that live up to the high standards set by the original series—despite having a much smaller budget.
Francesca Orsi, head of drama at HBO, recently shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the new spin-off is being produced at a much lower cost compared to previous Game of Thrones projects. Each episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is being made for less than $10 million, which is significantly lower than the reported $15 million per episode for the final season of Game of Thrones and $20 million per episode for House of the Dragon.
However, Orsi explained that the reduced budget has not affected the quality of the show’s action sequences. She noted that the battles in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are just as thrilling as those seen in Game of Thrones, proving that effective storytelling and creative filmmaking can achieve the same impact at a fraction of the cost.
The series, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, is set nearly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones. It follows the journey of Ser Duncan the Tall, also known as Dunk, and a young Prince Aegon Targaryen, known as Egg. The six-episode miniseries is expected to premiere later in 2025 on HBO.
Martin himself has expressed his excitement for the project. In a blog post earlier this year, he revealed that he had seen all six episodes and was highly impressed by the adaptation. He described it as "as faithful an adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for," making it clear that he believes the series captures the essence of his original stories.
The show features Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. Other cast members include Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, and Daniel Ings.
With its blend of action, adventure, and character-driven storytelling, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is expected to provide fans with a fresh look at the world of Westeros. Despite the lower budget, HBO seems confident that the series will meet expectations and deliver the same intensity and excitement that fans have come to love.