Kit Harington has been doing some interesting work in recent years that has shown his incredible versatility as an actor. The actor juggles between character-driven projects such as Gunpowder, and Testament of Youth while also starring in big franchises like The MCU with Eternals and playing Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
Harington is most popularly recognized for his role in the latter and was one of the co-leads of the HBO show opposite Emilia Clarke. Game of Thrones ended with a lot of controversial storylines while also keeping possibilities open for future stories. A spinoff show with Jon Snow was in development but was shelved as the makers were unable to crack an intriguing storyline.
Kit Harington Did Not Want An Inferior Jon Snow Show And Thus Backed Out Of It
Kit Harington played Jon Snow in all 8 seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones. His complex and intriguing performance as the character earned him various accolades including two Emmy nominations. However, Jon Snow’s arc went for a toss in the final season and fans hated how the show wasted such a promising character that was built up to represent the ‘Prince that was Promised’.
Following the end of the show, a Jon Snow spinoff show was in development that would tell his story after the events of season 8. Harington kept updating the audience about the project and how he and the makers trying to come up with an interesting story that would do justice to the character. However, the project got stalled and Harington told GQ that nothing exciting was coming up and he decided to back off the project instead of putting out an underwhelming show. He said,
We spent a couple of years back and forth developing it. And it just didn’t… nothing got us excited enough. In the end, I kind of backed out and said, ‘I think if we push this any further and keep developing it we could end up with something that’s not good. And that’s the last thing we all want.
On X, fans heaved a sigh of relief at Harington not necessarily extending the Game of Thrones based only on brand value. Audiences are still burned by season 8’s controversial handling of his character’s arc and are happy that the creators do not want a follow-up show that does him injustice. Here are some of the reactions,
Yeah let's not extend our favourite character unnecessarily
— R.C (@RC___writes) August 12, 2024
Good decision
— Safa (@safashann) August 12, 2024
Too bad no one else in charge of HBO was listening.
— JimboFett. Fool of a Took (@JimboFett87) August 12, 2024
Exploring the wildling culture through his adventures would be interesting. Plus Drogon is still alive out there somewhere
— Swedge (@Swedgeland) August 12, 2024
Love you kit your are the best
— Muhammad Ahmad (@ahmad245947) August 12, 2024
Harington is aware of the criticism of season 8 and does not want to repeat it with a show that does not deliver on an incredible premise. With the lack of an intriguing arc of his beloved Targaryen character, he felt it best to put away the project and focus on other greater things. It proves that the actor is not driven by over-diluting an IP and wants to do meaningful work.
Kit Harington Deliberately Avoids Watching House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon recently concluded airing its second season and fans have been enjoying the events of the prequel series as well as its character dynamics. However, some of the cast of Game of Thrones are distancing themselves from watching the new show, After Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington has now admitted to not having watched the show at all.
In an interview with The Associated Press, the Jon Snow actor revealed that he just can’t watch the prequel show as he has already spent a long time in that world with Game of Thrones. While he wishes nothing but the best for House of the Dragon, he will never watch it. Harington said,
I just can’t watch it. 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.
The Game of Thrones actor seems to be still affected by the criticism the show got for season 8. Nevertheless, the actor is back as one of the leads in the third season of another HBO show Industry. The new season has received great reviews (via Rotten Tomatoes), with many claiming it to be the best season of the show.
Fans can watch Harington in Game of Thrones and Industry on Max.
