George R.R. Martin breaks silence on 'House of the Dragon' prequel

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with House of the Dragon, but his enthusiasm for another prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is undeniable. 

Martin recently shared updates on his website, revealing photos from his set visit and praising the series.

"I've seen a rough cut of the first episode, and I love it," Martin exclaimed. Filming has wrapped, and he hopes the show will debut next spring. 

Martin notes that the tone will differ from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon: "You may find the tone quite different... smaller in scale, more personal, with more humor, more focus on character... but there is danger and death as well."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapts Martin's Dunk & Egg stories, specifically The Hedge Knight. 

The series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, a century before Game of Thrones. Martin shared photos from the set, potentially revealing some spoilers.

This isn't Martin's first praise for the series. In September, he lauded the cast and showrunner Ira Parker's work. "I visited the set in Northern Ireland in July and loved what I saw. Great cast. Dunk and Egg look as if they walked out of the pages of my book."

Martin previously mentioned the series' unique tone and shorter length. "It's shorter than Game of Thrones, with a different tone... but remember, we're still in Westeros; no character is safe."

While Martin is enthusiastic about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he's critical of House of the Dragon, particularly its handling of Prince Maelor's character. Martin feels his absence weakens key scenes and hints at larger issues in future seasons.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is expected to arrive on HBO in 2025.