Production on the highly anticipated second season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been abruptly halted after catastrophic flooding left its filming location partially underwater. The disruption stems from Storm Therese, which unleashed historic rainfall and severe flooding across Spain's Canary Islands last month, submerging the set and forcing an indefinite pause in shooting.
Irony in Location Choice
In a twist of fate, the production had specifically relocated from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to the sunny island of Gran Canaria to accurately depict the drought-stricken landscapes described in George R.R. Martin's source material, The Sworn Sword novella. The area near the Presa de Las Niñas reservoir, which overflowed during the storm, had been reserved for filming from February 23 through May 15, according to local officials.
Set Destruction and Environmental Cleanup
Raúl García Brink, the environment councilor of the Gran Canaria Island Council, confirmed that the production company will now need to remove the ruined medieval-style structures and complete an environmental cleanup once water levels recede. Before the storm, crews had been preparing the set with logs and artificial gardens at campsites and recreational areas around the dam, as reported by local outlet Diario de Avisos.
Severe Weather Impacts
Storm Therese has been dubbed the region's worst storm in a decade, prompting a state of emergency across the archipelago. The military was deployed to assist with evacuations and chaos as neighborhoods were evacuated due to fears over reservoirs bursting. It remains unclear whether these weather delays will impact the show's season two release date, currently scheduled for 2027. HBO has not yet commented on the revised production schedule.
Cast and Production Details
The series stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon Targaryen, set 89 years before the events of Game of Thrones but after its other prequel, House of the Dragon. Season two production began in December 2025 with interior and location shoots in Belfast, overlapping with the miniseries' season premiere in January. New cast members for the second season include Lucy Boynton, Babou Ceesay, and Peter Mullan, though actor Sam Spruell, who plays Prince Maekar Targaryen, has indicated he does not expect to return.
Additional cast members include Finn Bennett, Henry Ashton, Tanzyn Crawford, and Daniel Ings. The Independent's review described the show as an "odd, body fluid-drenched" and "off-beat" prequel, highlighting its unique tone within the Game of Thrones universe. As cleanup efforts proceed, fans and production teams alike await updates on when filming can resume amidst the challenging conditions.
