The Jon Snow spinoff of Game of Thrones is no longer in active development at HBO. Though the main series ended in 2019, the fantasy franchise is continuing with multiple prequel series based on the works of George R.R. Martin, including House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. It was first reported in 2022 that a Jon Snow spinoff series, which would act as a sequel to Game of Thrones following Kit Harington’s character, was in development.
However, in the years since, it emerged that the Jon Snow spinoff has been shelved indefinitely. The reasons for this are varied, though the key reason for HBO’s decision seems to be a lack of story for the Game of Thrones sequel to follow. While many fans of Kit Harington’s Game of Thrones character were undoubtedly disappointed by the news, the Jon Snow spinoff being halted probably wasn’t the worst decision for the character or the franchise.
What Kit Harington Has Said About The Status Of The Jon Snow Spinoff Series
The GoT Star Revealed That Narrative Difficulties Led To Development Being Halted
During an exclusive interview with Screen Rant promoting Blood for Dust, Harington confirmed that the Jon Snow spinoff series is no longer in development. The actor says the project was previously in the developmental stage, but “currently, it’s not” and “it’s off the table” because they “couldn’t find the right story to tell.” Though it’s no longer in active development, Harington hopes they can revisit the project sometime in the future. Read his full comments below:
I hadn’t really ever spoken about it, because it was in development. I didn’t want it leaked out that it was being developed, and I didn’t want the thing to happen where people kind of start theorizing, getting either excited about it or hating the idea of it, when it may never happen. Because in development, you look at every angle, and you see whether it’s worth it.
And currently, it’s not. Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough. So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being. There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It’s firmly on the shelf.
Why It’s Best The Jon Snow Spinoff Series Isn’t Happening
Game Of Thrones Works Best With Source Material
Since its development was first reported, the Jon Snow spinoff failed to make significant progress, and Kit Harington’s latest comments seem to be the nail in the coffin. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon, based on the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, has been a mega-hit. The first season aired in 2022 to overwhelmingly positive reviews and broke viewership records for HBO. House of the Dragon season 2 premiered in June 2024 with additional seasons already planned.
Of the many Game of Thrones spinoffs in development, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is the only one to receive a straight-to-series order. The prequel, based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, has cast its two lead stars, Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell, and started shooting in the spring of 2024. Like House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is a prequel set many years before the events of Game of Thrones and will not have to deal with its divisive ending.
Game of Thrones came to a controversial ending in 2019, with much criticism aimed at the ending for Jon Snow’s character, who was exiled from Westeros and returned with the Wildings to the lands beyond The Wall. As a sequel to Game of Thrones, the Jon Snow spinoff would have to deal directly with this divisive ending. As Harington’s comments indicate, this was too tall a task for the spinoff’s writers to deal with.
Just like David Benioff and D.B. Weiss during the latter seasons of Game of Thrones, the Jon Snow spinoff show has no source material to work with. This is perhaps the main reason why the final season of Game of Thrones suffered. Perhaps it’s for the best that the Jon Snow spinoff series isn’t happening since the Game of Thrones franchise thrives when it directly adapts George R.R. Martin’s source material.
Which Game Of Thrones Spinoffs Are Still In Development
There Are Multiple Upcoming Shows Set In The World Of Westeros
When Game of Thrones concluded, the Jon Snow spinoff seemed like the most logical choice for a follow-up show. However, in the time since, House of the Dragon proved that spinoffs in the world of Westeros that don’t feature any characters from GoT can still be a resounding success. So, while some may be disappointed that the Jon Snow solo show isn’t happening, there is still plenty to look forward to from the franchise as a whole – including more seasons of the hit prequel House of the Dragon.
Outside the story of the Targaryen civil war, the next Game of Thrones spinoff to arrive will be A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Like House of the Dragon, this will be a prequel. It will sit between GoT and HotD in the timeline, though it will be much closer to King Robert’s Rebellion than the Dance of the Dragons, taking place about 90 years before Game of Thrones season 1.
However, the other spinoffs to Game of Thrones planned by HBO sit much closer to House of the Dragon in the timelines. After A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the next two series likely to arrive will be prequels to the prequel, taking place even further back in the history of Westeros. The first of these Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon spinoffs in development is titled The Sea Snake (though it has also been referred to as Nine Voyages).
The Sea Snake will focus on Corlys Velaryon, detailing his younger years and showing how he became the wise yet world-weary character viewers were introduced to in House of the Dragon. The second prequel confirmed to be in development, Aegon’s Conquest, will take place even earlier. It will show the story of Aegon the First, also known as Aegon the Conqueror, and how he and his two sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys conquered and united the Seven Kingdoms.
Outside of this, there are also several rumored shows in early development whose fate is still uncertain. These include Ten Thousand Ships, which will take place a full 1000 years before Game of Thrones and show the story of the founder of Dorne, Princess Nymeria. There has also been talk of a spinoff to cover Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, which would, of course, be much more linked to Game of Thrones. So, while the Jon Snow spinoff may not be happening, fans of Game of Thrones still have plenty of new content to look forward to.
