Exploring the Unreleased Jon Snow Spinoff in 'Game of Thrones' Universe

Kit Harington will not be starring in a Game of Thrones spinoff series featuring his character, Jon Snow. Just before the premiere of the prequel House of the Dragon in August 2022, it was announced that HBO had plans for a sequel series centered on Jon Snow, with Harington returning to play the role of the former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

George R.R. Martin, the author of the books that inspired Game of Thrones, announced in June 2022 that a Jon Snow spinoff show is in the works. He shared the news on his blog, revealing that it was Kit Harrington who proposed the idea. The writers and showrunners involved have not been disclosed yet, but Kit Harrington brought in his own team who are said to be fantastic.

Kit Harrington portrayed Jon Snow throughout the entire Game of Thrones series, which aired from April 2011 to May 2019. Initially thought to be Ned Stark's illegitimate son, it was later revealed that Jon is actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, making him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne.

Two years after the show’s announcement, Harington revealed in April 2024 that the project was no longer in development.

Keep scrolling for everything to know about the scrapped Jon Snow spinoff series.

Everything to Know About the Jon Snow Series HBO Is Developing With Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington - 125

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The Cancellation of Kit Harington's Jon Snow-Centered 'Game of Thrones' Spinoff

Kit Harington's planned Game of Thrones spinoff series focusing on his character, Jon Snow, has unfortunately been cancelled.

Shortly before the premiere of the prequel House of the Dragon in August 2022, it was revealed that HBO was working on a sequel series for Game of Thrones centered around Jon Snow. Kit Harington was set to reprise his role as the former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

In June 2022, George R.R. Martin, the author of the books that inspired Game of Thrones, confirmed the news. He shared on his blog, "Yes, there is a Jon Snow show in development. Yes, it was Kit Harington who brought the idea to us. I cannot reveal the names of the writers/showrunners yet, but Kit also brought in his own team, and they are fantastic."

Harington portrayed Jon Snow in Game of Thrones from April 2011 to May 2019, appearing in almost every episode of the series. Initially thought to be Ned Stark's illegitimate son, it was later revealed that Jon was actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, making him the true heir to the Iron Throne.

In April 2024, two years after the show's announcement, Harington announced that the project was no longer moving forward.

Keep scrolling for everything to know about the scrapped Jon Snow spinoff series.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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What Was the Show Called?

In June 2022, Martin revealed that the show's working title was Snow.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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When Was it Set to Premiere?

No premiere date had been announced as the series was still in the early stages of development.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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Who Was in the Cast?

Aside from Harington reprising his role as Jon Snow, no other casting announcements had been made.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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How Would the Show Connect to 'Game of Thrones'?

Snow is a sequel that continues the story after the events of GoT, leaving the door open for some characters to make a return. Jon Snow returned to Castle Black with Tormund Giantsbane and led the wildlings back beyond the Wall. Bran Stark ruled over Westeros as King of the Six Kingdoms, while Sansa Stark became Queen in the North. Arya Stark chose to explore the Sunset Sea and left Westeros behind.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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Would It Have Overlapped With 'House of the Dragon'?

House of the Dragon is set hundreds of years before GoT, so it was unlikely that Snow would overlap with the prequel series.

Jon Snow's Back! Everything to Know About HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Sequel

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Was George R.R. Martin Involved?

The writer confirmed his involvement with Snow in a blog post in June 2022. He mentioned that Kit’s team had visited him in Santa Fe to work on the show, but he didn't specify his exact role. He also mentioned that there were other Game of Thrones spinoffs in development, but not all of them may end up being aired. The writer emphasized that none of the shows have been officially approved yet, so there is no guarantee if or when they will be released. He expressed his enthusiasm for all four series to make it to TV, but acknowledged that it's not always how things work out.

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Would the Spinoff Show Jon Snow's Trauma?

Harington shared during a December 2022 official Game of Thrones convention that Jon would not be doing well at the start of Snow. According to Entertainment Weekly, he mentioned that at the end of the show, Jon was in a cell preparing to be beheaded and actually wanted it. He felt done. Going to the Wall was both a great gift and a great curse for him.

Reflecting further, Harington explained that Jon had to return to a place with a lot of history. He would have to live with the memories of killing Dany, holding Ygritte as she died, hanging Olly, and the overall trauma. It was a complex and interesting situation for his character.

Harington concluded, "He's not OK.

Jon Snow

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Did the HBO Max Drama Affect 'Snow'?

In December 2022, Martin hinted that the Warner Bros. Discovery merger could potentially impact all Game of Thrones spinoffs. Although he didn't mention Snow specifically, he pointed out that none of the shows in development have been officially approved yet. According to a post on his personal blog, Martin mentioned, "Some of those projects are progressing faster than others, which is typical in the development process. None of them have received the green light yet, but we are hopeful that it may happen soon. While a couple of spinoffs have been put on hold, I don't believe they are completely abandoned. Just like you can take something off the shelf, you can also put it back on. The changes happening at HBO Max have definitely had an impact on us."

Everything to Know About the Kit Harington s Shelved Jon Snow Centered Game of Thrones Spinoff

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Why Was the Series Canceled?

Harington shared in an interview with ScreenRant in April 2024 that the project involving Snow was no longer being developed. He mentioned that they were unable to come up with a story that everyone was passionate about.

Therefore, the decision was made to pause the project for now. Harington stated, "We decided to lay down tools with it for the time being." He also added, "There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no, It’s firmly on the shelf."

Editor's P/S:

The cancellation of the planned Jon Snow spinoff series comes as a disappointment for fans who were eager to see the beloved character's story continue. However, it's clear that the decision was made after careful consideration. The showrunners and writers were unable to come up with a story that they were all passionate about, which is an important factor in creating a successful television series. It's possible that the spinoff could be revived in the future, but for now, it seems that Jon Snow's story has come to an end.

The article also highlights some of the challenges that the Game of Thrones spinoffs have faced since the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery. It remains to be seen whether any of the other planned spinoffs will make it to the screen, but the cancellation of the Jon Snow series is a reminder that even the most popular and well-received franchises are not immune to changes in the entertainment industry.