"Nobody's thinking about magic": A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms co-creator explains the lack of dragons in Game of Thrones prequel

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms sets clear expectations up front. The Game of Thrones prequel is built as a grounded road story about Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, far from royal courts and sorcery. Co-creator and showrunner Ira Parker places the tale “just over 50 years after the death of the last dragon,” which frames the headline claim: “Nobody’s thinking about magic.” In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Sunday, October 5, Parker compared the feel to “14th-century Britain,” focusing on the life of a hedge knight, small villages, and a working-class perspective.

Season 1 adapts The Hedge Knight, opens with Dunk riding into the Ashford Meadow tourney, and even drops a franchise staple. There is no animated title sequence, only a plain title card that fits Dunk’s no-frills ethos. The series is slated to premiere in January 2026 on HBO Max, and George R. R. Martin has already praised the six completed episodes.

Who said “Nobody’s thinking about magic,” and what it actually means

The quote comes from Ira Parker in a new interview that lays out the show’s time period and tone. In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, Parker said,

“Nobody’s thinking about magic.”

He sets the era as “just over 50 years after the death of the last dragon.” Parker added:

"This could basically be 14th century Britain. This is hard nose, grind it out, gritty, medieval knights, cold with a really light, hopeful touch. It's a wonderful place to be. We are ground up in this series, we are starting right at the bottom."

The intent is to lower the horizon line: armorers, barmaids, puppeteers and footsore travelers anchor the drama while royal power sits at a wary distance. That lens reframes A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for the audience. Expect fights, honor codes and consequences that arrive by law or lance rather than prophecy. Parker said,

“We’re not with the lords and ladies, the kings and queens.”

The choice aligns with the source material and explains the headline’s absence of dragons: this is simply an era when dragons are no longer present and magic is not at the forefront of ordinary people's minds. In practical terms, that shifts spectacle into character. It also allows the show to explore how the Targaryen name holds up when its old advantage, dragons, is gone.

The audience will see that philosophy is even in the credits. Parker said dropping the elaborate opening was “the most stressful decision,” but “it serves our show.” He also framed the creative rule of thumb: “All decisions came down to Dunk,” which reflected his straightforward nature, evident in every department.

Those decisions keep the camera at ground level across the Ashford tourney, where Dunk and Egg cross paths with the likes of Baelor, Maekar, Aerion, Steely Pate, and Tanselle. The “ending,” in spirit, is about what The Hedge Knight resolves: a character piece about duty, honor, and the cost of living by a code, an emphasis Martin himself highlighted while noting there are “no dragons… no huge battles… no white walkers.”

Release window, story focus and cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is slated to premiere in January 2026 on HBO/Max. That launch month was publicly announced this week, with a studio social post and a New York Comic Con panel timed to match.

Season 1 adapts The Hedge Knight across six episodes, set roughly 90 years before Game of Thrones and about 50 years after the last dragon’s death. The leads are Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, with Targaryen figures Baelor, Maekar, and Aerion appearing at Ashford Meadow. As per Entertainment Weekly, these elements are presented from Dunk and Egg’s perspective, not from the seats of power.

George R. R. Martin, who wrote the Game of Thrones books, has seen all six episodes and offered a clear signal on the tone. In his January 28, 2025, blog post, he wrote,

“I’ve seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well."

He described the piece as faithful, focused on “duty and honor.” He added:

“There are no dragons this time around.”

That tracks directly with Parker’s “Nobody’s thinking about magic” framing and sets appropriate expectations for this Game of Thrones prequel.

Stay tuned for more updates.