Emilia Clarke has confirmed that a new Game of Thrones spin-off show about Jon Snow is in the works.
Last week the news surfaced that Kit Harington was reportedly set to reprise his biggest role, although further details about the possible production were not shared.
But now the forthcoming series is looking increasingly likely as Clarke, who played the dragon queen Daenerys Targaryen in the original HBO drama, has confirmed that it is being made.
While speaking with BBC News, the actor said, “It’s happening. It’s been created by Kit as far as I can understand, so he’s in it from the ground up. So what you will be watching, hopefully, if it happens, is certified by Kit Harington.”
For those who missed the original fantasy drama (an impressive feat) – Jon Snow is the bastard son of the Northern King Eddard Stark. He became increasingly important as the series went on, and there was a moment (spoiler) when it looked like he might sit on the Iron Throne.
It turns out his Mum had had a secret relationship with Rhaegar Targaryen (from the very blonde family with the dragons) which made his ties to the Throne even stronger. But in the end, he was sent up to live with the Wildlings for the rest of his days. If you remember, everyone was raging mad about this extremely lame conclusion to eight years of intense drama and investment in his character.
Now, it looks like fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as the character will be returning to our screens. There is very little further details, but it’s enough to start to get excited about.
It’s an interesting pivot for Harington: by the end of the eight Game of Thrones series, the actor seemed to be indicating that he wasn’t enjoying himself very much any more.
In January 2019, he told GQ Australia that, “The last season of Thrones’seemed designed to break us.”
“Everyone was broken at the end,” he said. “I don’t know if we were crying because we were sad it was ending or if we were crying because it was so f**king tiring.”
Speaking on a SiriusXM show in August 2021, Harington said he “went through some mental health difficulties after Thrones — and during the end of Thrones... And I think it was directly to do with the nature of the show and what I’ve been doing for years.”
Since finishing the fantasy blockbuster, Harington has starred in the 2018 film The Death & Life of John F. Donovan, Marvel’s 2021’s Eternals, and was King Henry in this year’s Donmar Warehouse production of Henry V.
The news of the spin-off comes as part of a major expansion of the Game of Thrones universe. It was announced back in March that there were at least three more series in consideration: 9 Voyages aka Sea Snake, Flea Bottom and 10,000 Ships.
According to Deadline, Sea Snake is the most developed of the three and is likely to follow the adventures of Corlys Velaryon (the husband of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen) as he makes great sea voyages.
Flea Bottom will explore the slum district in King’s Landing, while 10,000 Ships is going to be about Princess Nymeria and the Rhoynars (people from the eastern continent of Essos).
Then, the prequel series House of the Dragon, about the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, is set to be released on HBO and Sky Atlantic on August 21.
