A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Latest Setback Explained: How It Affects Season 2

Credit: HBO Max

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the prequel to Game of Thrones, carved its own space in the otherwise brutal narrative of Westeros. Season 1 was better than what fans expected, but the only thing wrong with it was that it got over too soon. While there was some relief that Season 2 was already greenlit and being filmed, even that relief has somewhat been snatched.

Atlantico Hoy recently reported that the filming of Season 2, which was taking place at Gran Canaria’s Las Niñas Dam (Spain), has been halted due to a historic flood. Caused by a storm, the region has witnessed the heaviest rainfall in over 15 years, causing a dramatic increase in water levels. 

The site had been reserved from February 23 to May 15, but now Gran Canaria’s Environment Minister Raul Garcia Brink has confirmed that the production company has abandoned the place. 

Shoot Disruption Could Delay A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms made quite an impression on Game of Thrones fans, with its simpler and quite peaceful narrative grounded in the tales of common people. Hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his young eccentric squire Egg also served as the perfect protagonists, allowing us to see Westeros like never before.

So, it is not an understatement when we say that fans were looking forward to seeing Season 2, which is scheduled for release next year in 2027. But now that the shooting has been disrupted, there is a possibility it might cause a delay.

While no delay has been announced till now, the shoot has moved to a different place. But there are also reports that suggest that most of the filming was completed before the deadly storm.

Sources close to the production also told Polygon that while the natural calamity has caused a sporadic suspension, the long-term filming schedule has not been impacted. While the set will have to be cleaned up and retrieved, it remains to be seen when or whether or not filming will resume there. 

Moreover, HBO has also not made any comment regarding a delay in the release date, and hasn’t clarified where and when the rest of the filming will take place. 

Why Moving to Gran Canaria Was Important for Season 2

A still from the show | Credits: HBO Max

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 will be based on The Sworn Sword, the second of George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. In the story, Dunk is now under the service of Ser Eustace Osgrey in Reach.

For fans who have read the story will know Reach is a drought-stricken place filled with bare and barren hills and fields with drying grain. This little detail is important in the story, highlighting how brutal summers can be in Westeros. 

Thus, Spain’s Gran Canaria was ideal for the season as it captured Westeros just as the story described it. But now that the production has been halted, and that too because of severe rains and a catastrophic flood, the place will hardly be able to serve as the ‘barren and brazen’ place the season was looking for.

The flooding of the reservoir Presa de las Niñas has also made nearby places unusable due to the water. Since a significant portion of filming has already taken place in the region, it presents a logistical challenge for the production to find a similar location, especially one that fits the narrative.

While the filming has moved on to other places, it remains to be seen how it will affect the season’s aesthetics. For now, no delay has been announced, and we hope that the flooding did not cause any serious damage.

What do you think about this matter? Let us know in the comments below.

 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 is now streaming on HBO Max.