HBO’s head of drama, Francesca Orsi, recently discussed the budget for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in comparison to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The upcoming prequel, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, follows Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), as they navigate their journey from squire to hedge knight. The series is set to premiere in 2025.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Orsi shared insights into how the production of this new Game of Thrones spinoff differs from its predecessors. She revealed that the series costs less than $10 million per episode due to evolving production standards and expenses. Despite the smaller budget, Orsi assured that the scale of the battles remains on par with some of Game of Thrones’ most iconic fight sequences, offering executives a fresh perspective on staging large-scale battles. Read her full remarks below:
I like being charged. As much as there was a day of budgets being a bit more robust and now, while they continue to be for a number of shows, there are some shows that we’re being charged with making for far less. I have an example that really took me aback. We’re doing a Game of Throne spinoff titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for under $10 million in episode, [which is peanuts] relative to what Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon cost episodically. And the battle sequences that the directors achieved match those across Game of Thrones and are a fraction of the price, so it’s a lesson for us that we need to be challenging these budgets.
Read More: ‘A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS’ releases in Summer 2025 on HBO
Fans drawn to Game of Thrones for its large-scale fantasy battles shouldn’t be concerned about the smaller budget of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as it aligns well with the story it tells. Unlike the grand conflicts involving Targaryens, dragons, and White Walkers, this prequel centers on a knight carving out his place in the world. The series will focus more on character-driven storytelling rather than large-scale spectacle, following Duncan’s journey to prominence and his mentorship of Egg in becoming a better man.
The battles in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms won’t require the costly elements that typically drive up a show’s budget. With White Walkers yet to appear and dragons thought to be extinct, there’s less need for extensive visual effects to incorporate these creatures into battle scenes. In contrast, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon relied heavily on such mystical elements, contributing to their higher budgets. Instead, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will likely center its conflicts around its main characters, using them to heighten the drama.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already shaping up to be a significant departure from previous Game of Thrones series. While some key characters may have ties to Westeros’ most powerful dynasties—and there’s potential for younger versions of familiar figures to appear—the story itself is more of a rags-to-riches journey rather than a tale of political intrigue among royalty. Still, with battles like the Battle of the Redgrass Field expected to be depicted, action will remain a part of the series.
Orsi has highlighted the directors’ efforts in bringing these battles to life, raising questions about how A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms can deliver compelling fight sequences without exceeding its smaller budget. Additionally, with Orsi describing the process as a learning experience for HBO, it remains to be seen whether these budget-conscious changes will influence future Game of Thrones productions.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter