Kit Harington, who once donned the cloak of Jon Snow in HBO’s series Game of Thrones, recently confessed an impromptu plot twist in his own viewer’s journey. He refused to watch the show that now sits upon the throne that Game of Thrones built. With the advent of House of the Dragon, fans were perched on the edge of their seats, but Harington has opted instead for a respectful distance, cheerfully sending his well-wishes.
After brandishing his sword through eight seasons and witnessing the bittersweet finale that left fans polarized, Harington decided to hang up his proverbial sword, stepping back to embark on fresh endeavors like the third season of HBO’s Industry. His retreat from the show that saw his character rise and fall ‘twice’ speaks volumes, as even Emilia Clarke echoes his sentiments.
It seems that for Harington, the dragons can soar without him, as he prefers to let the memories of his time in Westeros rest & untouched by the flames of his own canceled spin-off that follows.
Emilia Clarke & Kit Harington’s Bold Stance: No House of the Dragon After Game of Thrones
Kit Harington, the iconic Jon Snow from HBO’s Game of Thrones, has taken a step back from the fantasy realm he once ruled. In recent news, the London-born actor, 37, has made it clear that he’s not exactly rushing to binge-watch House of the Dragon, the prequel that aims to reignite the flames of Westeros’ fiery saga.
Harington, who spent eight seasons wrestling with the icy winds and political machinations of the Seven Kingdoms, has decided to give House of the Dragon a wide berth. He put it bluntly (via Associated Press):
I just can’t watch it.
After all, once you’ve walked through the long winter, sometimes it’s best to avoid the cold winds altogether. For Harington, revisiting Westeros, even through the lens of a new show, feels like a case of too much of a good thing—or perhaps too much of a tumultuous past. Continuing, he added:
I think for me it’s just I’ve spent too long there. And I wish them all the best, and I hope, I hear it’s wonderful and going really well. But I don’t think I’ll ever watch that show, and I don’t think I’ll watch ‘Game of Thrones’ again for a few years.
His sentiment resonates with fellow cast member Emilia Clarke, who brought Daenerys Targaryen to life, as she earlier informed Variety:
I just can’t do it. It’s so weird, it’s so weird, it’s so strange. It’s kind of like someone saying, ‘Do you want to go to this school reunion that’s not your year?’
For both Clarke and Harington, diving back into the world of dragons and dynasties feels like reliving old battles that are better left in the past.
Beyond the Iron Throne: Why Kit Harington is Steering Clear of House of the Dragon
Kit Harington’s decision to steer clear of House of the Dragon is not just about personal preference but also about leaving behind the stormy seas of his past role. The final season of Game of Thrones was a rollercoaster that left many fans—and presumably the cast—with mixed feelings. Harington himself was caught off guard by some of the plot twists, as he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Though he could “sort of see” how the story had arrived at that point over the previous two seasons, Harington was “completely surprised” by the plot twist. He revealed that the “highly emotionally charged scene” took him and Emilia Clarke three weeks to shoot.
Adding to the tumult, HBO’s plans for a Jon Snow spinoff seemed like a beacon of hope. Yet, this potential project has now been shelved. The spinoff’s cancellation was like a damper on a fireworks display—exciting prospects extinguished before they could truly light up the screen. Harington and the writing team found themselves in a bind, unable to find a story that would do justice to the legacy of Jon Snow.
As he told Screen Rant in July, the spinoff is “off the table” for now, signaling that even the brightest stars sometimes need to take a step back. Fans were quick to rally behind Harington’s decision; let’s have a look at some comments:
As Harington moves forward in his career, he is eager to explore new opportunities and tackle different roles. His latest project, season three of HBO’s Industry, has allowed him to delve into a new character arc and challenge himself in fresh ways.
Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon are streaming on Max.
