The wind howled like a banshee that day in early 2024 when news broke: Kit Harington’s Jon Snow sequel was dead. Buried, gone beyond the Wall, never to be seen again. Until it wasn’t.
A few years ago at the heights of HBO’s speculative yearning for more Game of Thrones, one of the wildest ideas that emerged in the running was a flat-out sequel series, starring Kit Harington’s Jon Snow and set after the events of the main show’s highly controversial ending. But, two years after it first emerged, Harington himself appeared from beyond the Wall to confirm that the show was dead and buried. Now, that may no longer be the case.
As part of a major new profile with George R.R. Martin, The Hollywood Reporter revealed plans for what would’ve inspired the sequel series before it met its end. While Martin himself initially bristled at the thought of a sequel series that could potentially further enmesh in people’s minds the ending to Game of Thrones as it appeared on TV—which he has continued to iterate practically since the moment it aired is vastly different from his plans for the Song of Ice and Fire books’ long-awaited conclusion—the author believed that Jon, isolated as he was from the rest of Westeros at the series’ end, would be the best path forward to continue the story without revealing too much about the rest of the seven kingdoms.
According to the trade, Harington developed an idea with writers from his historical BBC miniseries Gunpowder that deeply focused on Jon’s traumatic state of mind following the events of Game of Thrones. Casting aside both his fabled sword, Longclaw, and his longtime companion Ghost the direwolf, the series would’ve seen an aimless Jon beyond the Wall in exile, constantly building and destroying cabins to give himself anything to do other than be alone with his thoughts. Harington also believed that the only path forward for Jon over the course of the series wasn’t to become a heroic figure again and return to action, but to die—this time, for good.
Although seemingly heavily inspired by the actor’s own struggles filming Game of Thrones, HBO was, perhaps understandably, purportedly not too keen on such a bleak premise for a series. Harington confirmed the project had been shelved by the spring of 2024, but THR reports that HBO is now in the very earliest stages of reviving the show, albeit with a radically altered premise.
Allegedly now being developed by Drops of God writer Quoc Dang Tran, the potential new show would relocate from beyond the Wall in Westeros’ frigid north to the eastern continent of Essos, and instead of following just Jon, he would now be joined by another familiar face—his half-sister Arya, who concluded Game of Thrones by leaving Westeros to explore distant lands further to… well, its west, so presumably at some point she’ll have decided to turn her boat around and go the other way.
But, as we’ve seen before, there’s a significant difference between HBO having ideas about a new Game of Thrones show and a new Game of Thrones show actually happening. This new plot would not just need to convince Harington to return for an idea vastly different from the one he was actually interested in pursuing at some point; it would now also need to potentially bring on board Maisie Williams as well to continue Arya’s story. But the latter does not appear to be the significant hurdle here: Harington is seemingly steadfast that he’ll never return to Westeros again.
“No, god no,” Harington told Variety last month about even the mildest of returns to the franchise when asked if he’d potentially reprise his role for future A Song of Ice and Fire audio books. “I don’t wanna go anywhere near it. I spent 10 years doing that. Thanks, I’m alright.”
Good luck with that one, then.
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From Cabin Fever to Essos Adventures
We all have those days when the most appealing activity is building (and destroying) a metaphorical cabin just to avoid our thoughts. The initial concept for the Jon Snow sequel series hit a nerve because it tapped into something real: the struggle with trauma and the desire to escape. Harington’s vision was raw, a portrait of a broken hero.
The series would have focused on Jon’s state of mind, his exile beyond the Wall, his struggles with purpose. Imagine Jon, stripped of everything, wandering a frozen wasteland. HBO, however, seemed hesitant to embrace such a bleak narrative. And now? The show is being resurrected with a new writer and a dramatically different direction.
What will the Jon Snow sequel be about?
The revived series shifts the action from the icy north to Essos, a land of vibrant cultures, mysterious magic, and sprawling cities. This is no longer just Jon’s story; Arya Stark is potentially joining the adventure, charting new courses across unknown seas. The premise has become less of an internal character study and more of an external journey.
The Reluctant King in the North
Ever tried to convince a friend to revisit a painful memory? That’s the challenge HBO faces with Kit Harington. He’s been vocal about his desire to move on from Game of Thrones, expressing a definitive “No, god no” to any return. His reluctance is understandable. The series took a toll, and he’s earned the right to explore new creative avenues.
Harington’s ambivalence presents a significant hurdle. The success of this new Game of Thrones show hinges not only on a compelling script but also on his willingness to revisit a character and a world that he seems eager to leave behind. It’s a delicate dance of persuasion and creative negotiation.
Is Kit Harington done with Game of Thrones?
Based on recent interviews, it seems Harington is ready to distance himself from the franchise. But as any seasoned negotiator knows, everything is on the table under the right circumstances. HBO likely needs to offer Harington not just a paycheck, but a compelling creative vision that respects his previous investment in the character while charting a fresh, exciting course.
Arya’s New Compass
We’ve all made impulsive decisions, haven’t we? Arya Stark’s ending in Game of Thrones was one of them: She sets sail west of Westeros, seeking to find what is west of Westeros. The revived sequel now has her sailing east to Essos to meet up with her brother/cousin Jon Snow. To make this happen, she’s had to turn her ship around.
The potential inclusion of Arya adds a layer of intrigue. Maisie Williams has demonstrated her range as an actress, and her character’s adventurous spirit could inject a new dynamic into the Game of Thrones universe. But even her participation depends on the strength of the new premise.
What does Maisie Williams think about the Jon Snow Sequel?
Whether Williams is even interested remains a major question mark. While she hasn’t explicitly rejected the idea, she hasn’t signed on, either. Her decision likely hinges on the script, the direction of Arya’s character, and the overall vision for the series.
HBO’s journey toward a new Game of Thrones series is fraught with challenges. It needs to align diverging creative visions, convince reluctant stars to return, and deliver a story that honors the legacy of the original while forging its own path. The path ahead, like the world of Westeros itself, is full of uncertainty. Will this resurrected show rise from the ashes, or will it remain a ghost of what might have been?