Kit Harington is trying to separate himself from Game of Thrones, wants people to see him and not Jon Snow

Kit Harington’s portrayal of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones is a defining aspect of the show. His brooding gaze, chiseled features, and rugged charm bring to life the complex and beloved character. Clad in his iconic black cloak and sporting his signature mane of dark hair, Harington embodies the stoic and honorable Jon Snow. His performances convey the character’s depth, from his initial days as a bastard son to his rise as the King in the North, and ultimately, his fate as the true heir to the Iron Throne.

Kit Harington’s Journey with Snow

It was unexpected when Kit Harington revealed plans for a Game of Thrones spin-off show, Snow, given his apparent desire to move on from the franchise.  Harington’s exhaustion was evident in 2019, as he expressed relief that the series had ended. While he didn’t shy away from criticizing certain storytelling choices, Harington maintained a gracious attitude toward the devoted fan base. He said in an interview with GQ,

“I don’t really want to say,” says Harington, reticent for the first time in our conversation, “because it starts a whole thing.” Even now, the Thrones fandom can be vociferous. “What I can tell you is it was HBO that came to me and said, ‘Would you consider this?’ My first reaction was no. 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. I wonder whether there was a strange comfort in keeping a line to Jon Snow alive, even just as a theory, a concept – like texting an ex when the future starts to feel scary. It must have been a tough decision, emotionally, to know whether to go back or move on.”

Credits: HBO

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Kit Harington’s Quest to Move On

Kit Harington acknowledges the challenges of revisiting his iconic role, citing the significant emotional baggage attached to it. Nevertheless, he also understands that his connection to the character limits his ability to break free from the show’s shadow. If he remains tied to it, it’s challenging for audiences to see him in a new light. To grow as an actor, he needs to be able to take on diverse roles and have people perceive him differently, rather than just seeing Jon Snow.

“Yeah. There’s a lot of baggage that goes with it, and I think that was part of the problem,” says Harington. “In some ways, you need to divorce completely from this previous thing, and we’re only a few years after it. The role will always be just such a significant factor of my life. It might very well be the biggest, most important piece of work I do. I met my wife on it. I have kids from it.

Have some lifelong friends from it. I’m recognised in the street because of it.[But] it was also working against what I’m trying to do, which is separate myself from [the show]. By still being with it, it [would be] very hard to ask people to see you as something else. And it’s kind of essential to do my job, for people to come and see me and not see Jon Snow.”

READ NEXT: “I hate you, you b*stard”: Iwan Rheon talks about fan response after his Game of Thrones stint

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