Game of Thrones is filled with dark moments, but one affected Kit Harington personally. Based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, the hit show started in 2011 with a cast filled with young actors. Chief among them, Harington starred as the brooding Jon Snow, as his character slowly rose to become the Commander of the Night’s Watch. Along the way, Jon suffered through countless struggles, including a death and resurrection during seasons 5 and 6.
While Jon’s resurrection was a shocking twist, it was also a massive challenge for Harington to overcome. As a member of the Game of Thrones cast, Harington was always at the center of pop culture, but Jon’s death rocketed him into the spotlight. Instead of being a mere member of an ensemble, Harington was shocked to realize that he was quickly becoming a star. In an interview on the Hidden 20% podcast, he revealed that it brought him to a dark place. Check out his quote below, via ComicBook.com:
“My darkest period was when the show seemed to become so much about Jon when he died and came back. I didn’t like the focus of the whole show coming onto Jon. When you become the cliffhanger of a TV show and a TV show probably at the height of its power, the focus on you is f—–g terrifying. I realized that my life was hinging on this. Luckily, it was the right place at the right time. I managed to forge a new life from there… That is a dangerous rabbit hole to fall down because you find all of the bad stuff that people are saying as well as the nice stuff.”
Will Harington Ever Play Jon Snow Again?
Harington has spoken about his personal struggles before, but Jon’s resurrection impacted him more than being a member of the ensemble ever did. Part of the reason for that was that it enabled Harington to become essentially the spokesman of the show. On late-night talk shows, he was constantly asked about Jon’s death and whether he would return to the show. His subsequent suffering would give him more than enough reason to declare that he is no longer interested in reprising his role in future projects.
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While that would be understandable, it is not the path that Harington has taken. Instead, he is working on developing a Jon Snow spin-off show. Author George R. R. Martin already formally announced the project, but it has not been officially green-lit by HBO yet. Unlike the highly successful House of the Dragon spin-off, Snow would serve as a sequel to Game of Thrones. The scripts are currently in development, and Harington is hopeful to see the show reach production.
If Snow is not greenlit, it is unlikely that Harington will have the opportunity to reprise his role as Jon Snow. Still, his interest in the spin-off is a sign that he would be open to any future opportunities that develop. Harington’s time in the spotlight enabled him to seek help with coping with his new stardom. If he can ever take part in a Game of Thrones spinoff, his time coping with Jon’s resurrection will have been an important learning tool for his future.
