The news of Kit Harington returning as Jon Snow in a Game of Thrones sequel took the world by surprise last week, but many still can’t believe that it’s actually happening. HBO hasn’t released any official announcement either, but Harington’s Game of Thrones co-star Emilia Clarke has seemingly confirmed his return as Jon Snow. She also revealed that Harington created the series and is heavily involved in its production. In an interview with the BBC, Clarke said:
"He has told me about it. And I know it exists. It's happening. It's been created by Kit as far as I can understand, so he's in it from the ground up. So what you will be watching, hopefully, if it happens, is certified by Kit Harington."
Jon Snow is one of the central characters in Game of Thrones and was later revealed to be the rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms. Sadly, his ending left the fans wanting more, which was also the case for most of the character arcs in Game of Thrones. The series finale left almost everyone infuriated when Jon Snow was exiled to the far north. Other characters, including Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen, arguably suffered even worse fates, and fans have been demanding a complete do-over for the final season of Game of Thrones. While that’s unlikely to happen, at least the Jon Snow series will provide some much-needed closure. And who knows, it could even retcon some events of the polarizing finale.
Unfortunately, one controversial event that won’t be reversed is Daenerys Targaryen’s "Mad Queen" ending, as Emilia Clarke has made it clear, on several occasions, that she won’t be returning to Game of Thrones ever. "No, I think I'm done," Clarke reiterated to the BBC when asked if she’d reprise her role in a potential spinoff. However, Clarke is "fascinated" by HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, and looks forward to watching it with the rest of the world.
"It's going to be weird as hell. I'm going to watch this as a fresh viewer because it's [set] a be-jillion years before our show, so it's going to feel different."
House of the Dragon will premiere on HBO on August 21, 2022.
HBO is Committed to Expanding The Game Of Thrones Universe
Kit Harington’s Jon Snow spinoff is just one of many Game of Thrones-related shows currently in development at HBO. Excluding House of the Dragon, HBO has greenlit half a dozen projects set in the Game of Thrones universe, including The Sea Snake, Ten Thousand Ships, The Tale of Dunk and Egg, and Flea Bottom, and two secret animated series. But it’s clear which show fans will be looking forward to the most is the Jon Snow spinoff.
Kit Harington seems to have mixed feelings about the Game of Thrones finale. He once called season 8 a "disappointment" even before its premiere but later revealed that he was satisfied with Jon Snow’s send-off. And considering his multi-year commitment to Marvel, it certainly comes as a surprise that Harington is returning to Game of Thrones. He last appeared in Eternals as Dane Whitman/Black Knight, alongside fellow GoT alum Richard Madden. However, Harington recently admitted that he was in the dark about his Marvel future, and it seems he is utilizing the time to develop the Jon Snow series.
There is currently no word on the show’s plot, but it’s safe to say that after the overwhelmingly negative reception to GoT season 8, it would be a mistake to bring back just Kit Harington. And an entire series centered on Jon Snow’s journey north with the wildlings doesn’t really sound too exciting, especially without the threat of White Walkers. Hopefully, it will turn out better than the forgettable Game of Thrones season 8.