I Long for ‘Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms,’ but This 25-Year-Old Cult Classic Satisfies That Craving

(SeaPRwire) –   A young squire dons the armor of his fallen master after the elderly knight passes away leaning against a tree. This commoner enters a jousting competition under false pretenses, befriends someone skilled at navigating noble circles, clashes with a proud and influential knight, and even wins the favor of the royal heir. These plot points could easily describe HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which premiered this year—but they also perfectly capture the storyline of A Knight’s Tale, a beloved medieval sports film celebrating its 25th anniversary today. For fans eagerly awaiting a return to Westeros, watching A Knight’s Tale offers a satisfying alternative.

The striking parallels between A Knight’s Tale and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have sparked what some call a “copycat controversy.” The debate began even before filming for the HBO series started. Ira Parker, the showrunner, reportedly banned any mention of the 2001 film on set.

“We weren’t allowed to talk about A Knight’s Tale in the writers’ room or on set,” Parker told Den of Geek. “It’s an excellent movie with lasting appeal, but we got there first. The Hedge Knight was written two years prior to its release.”

In fact, the timeline stretches further back. George R. R. Martin’s first Tales of Dunk and Egg novella, The Hedge Knight, was published in 1998, while Brian Helgeland’s film A Knight’s Tale hit theaters in 2001. While the movie draws loosely from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales—written in the late 14th century—the origins of both stories remain a tangled web of creative borrowing. Regardless of who influenced whom, A Knight’s Tale remains a crowd-pleasing classic.

Heath Ledger stars as William Thatcher, a squire who assumes a noble identity following the death of his mentor and begins competing in tournaments. With the support of two fellow squires—played by Alan Tudyk and Mark Addy (who later portrayed King Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones)—William climbs the ranks. He meets Chaucer, a fictionalized version of the historical poet portrayed by Paul Bettany, who becomes his motivational voice. Along the way, William also catches the eye of Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), a witty noblewoman, and earns the rivalry of Count Adhemar of Anjou (Rufus Sewell), a wealthy and arrogant knight. The film builds toward the Jousting World Championships—a completely invented event with no basis in history, yet ideal for delivering a dramatic climax. Unlike A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, A Knight’s Tale blends fantasy with the uplifting spirit of an underdog sports story.

The soundtrack is another defining feature of the film. The opening credits begin with medieval peasants rhythmically clapping along to Queen’s iconic anthem, “We Will Rock You.” The deliberate anachronism isn’t accidental—it sets the tone for a film that joyfully mixes rock music with medieval jousting. Imagine hearing Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business” during a training montage in a modern sports flick; why not hear it while practicing lance drills instead? A Knight’s Tale boldly embraces this fusion, replacing contemporary sports with jousting and modern stadiums with tournament grounds. In contrast, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features a score by Dan Romer, distinct from Ramin Djawadi’s work on Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, yet deeply rooted in the atmosphere of Westeros. At Ashford Meadow, no one raises lighters for a sing-along encore.

The central difference between A Knight’s Tale and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms lies in their genre focus: the former is fundamentally a sports movie wrapped in a medieval fantasy setting. William’s journey begins and ends with the goal of winning the tournament. In the HBO series, however, the tournament takes a backseat when Dunk finds himself embroiled in a trial by combat—his only means of survival after defending a woman from a cruel Targaryen prince. While William’s deception puts his life at risk, he ultimately secures victory in the jousting arena with a heart-pounding comeback. Though A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is lighter in tone than its predecessor Game of Thrones, it still carries more depth and complexity than A Knight’s Tale.

Despite these differences, the two stories share remarkable similarities. Thanks to them, A Knight’s Tale can effectively satisfy cravings for Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. And with the next season of the HBO series focusing on other events rather than a tournament, fans might want to revisit this classic film—complete with a soundtrack featuring Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town.”