The world of Westeros descended upon Los Angeles with a bang! On Saturday night, HBO Max hosted a special advance screening and party to celebrate the new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. An intimate group of superfans were invited to watch the highly anticipated series on the big screen ahead of the show’s launch on January 18. Held at the grand AMC Theater in Westfield Century City, the lucky guests saw the first two episodes (bragging rights!) and were treated with Game of Thrones swag, covetable prizes, unique photo themed activations, and delicious food and drinks that brought the excitement of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to life.
Marisa Joy Photography / @marissajoyphoto
Influencer and podcaster Drew Afualo emceed the festivities and kicked off the evening’s fun with a Game of Thrones trivia contest. Fans from around the country and the world—one even flew in from Romania to attend the advance screening—eagerly raised their hands to participate in the competitive trivia contest. Those who answered correctly won A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms themed Funko Pop figures, posters and books.
Following the trivia contest, a parade of fans dressed in Game of Thrones characters took to the stage for a costume contest. All the looks, especially a fan looking like Daenerys Targaryen, were incredibly realistic. Soon after, Afualo knighted three winners of HBO Max’s TikTok-partnered #KnightChallenge live on stage. The three men were chosen by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin himself from a pool of 8,700 fan submissions. The crowd cheered and made loud praise throughout the amusing ceremony.
Marisa Joy Photography / @marissajoyphoto
Finally, it was time to watch episodes one and two of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The six-episode season of the HBO Original drama series centers on Ser Duncan the Tall (portrayed by Peter Claffey) and his squire (Dexter Sol Ansell). The entire series takes place over the course of a few days, entirely in one location at a jousting tournament. The show is also a comedy and far lighter than the shows (Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon) that preceded it.
The night concluded with an entertaining Westeros inspired post screening reception. Fans chatted about the show over smoked chicken sliders, pretzel bites and signature alcoholic beverages. Guests were also treated to themed photo moments like posing next to two live knights dressed in full armor. “I really liked the dry humor and some of the show’s absurdity,” one fan said while waiting in line at the photo activation. “I can’t wait to see the rest of the show. I’ll be watching every Sunday night for sure.”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts Sunday, January 18 at 10pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes will debut subsequent Sundays.
