Based on George R.R. Martin’s novella, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiered on January 18. The first episode introduced viewers to Dunk, aka Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight, and his squire Egg, a nine-year-old boy. As for all adaptations, the right casting was one of the biggest concerns for this highly-anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series. In a new interview, showrunner Ira Parker has revealed that Dexter Sol Ansell was the instant choice for Egg.
Quick read:
- Ira Parker was ready to sign Dexter Sol Ansell after watching his audition.
- Ansell’s audition was the first one he had watched.
- The first chemistry read between Ansell and Peter Claffey sealed the deal for Parker and executive-producer, Owen Harris.
Ira Parker almost cast Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg after watching a single audition
With his bald head and young age, Egg’s appearance in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is strikingly book-accurate. In a new episode on the Official Game of Thrones Podcast, showrunner Ira Parker revealed how Dexter Sol Ansell’s audition tape impressed him right off the bat. He said, “Very first email from my casting director, very top, number one, literally, Dexter Sol Ansell. Clicked on the link, watched the audition.”
Parker recalled telling the casting director, “That’s the guy. Great, let’s sign him up.” However, the casting director insisted that they watch other auditions before making a final decision. Astonished at the admission, the interviewer asked if he had not really watched any other auditions. “We had been sent no anyone else. That was the first thing that we saw. Dexter was literally number one on that list,” he replied.
Parker continued, “We did do, obviously, do the big, you know, long, you know, many-months-long process and, yeah, due diligence, and we came all the way back to the beginning… I mean, if that’s not kismet or whatever you want to call it, you know, one of one.”
Ira Parker on Dunk and Egg’s chemistry read
Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO (Image: HBO)
Parker revealed there was no doubt that they had found the right Dunk and Egg from the first chemistry read. He explained, “I mean, my director, Owen Harris, and I were sitting in that room, and we just looked at each other as soon as they, you know, stood next to each other. This is the show. This is easy, good. We can all go home now.”
One of the biggest elements of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the bond between Peter Claffey’s Dunk and Ansell’s Egg as the duo explores the tourney together. As the showrunner said, from the very first moment they meet, the incredible chemistry between them becomes apparent.
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