A Jon Snow Game of Thrones sequel series starring Kit Harington is in the works

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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...ff-1235167415/

HBO has "entered into early development on its first sequel to its blockbuster fantasy drama: A live-action spin-off series centered on the fan-favorite character Jon Snow" with Harington attached to reprise his popular role, reports The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd. The untitled Jon Snow project is the seventh Game of Thrones spinoff in the works. Hibberd adds: "The development signals an intriguing new direction in HBO’s handling of author George R.R. Martin’s fantasy universe, a move not unlike Disney+’s management of its Star Wars and Marvel brands where the streamer has found success launching character-focused sequel series such as WandaVision (starring Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (with Ewan McGregor reprising his iconic role). Perhaps most boldly from a creative standpoint, the project would upend Thrones' final season as the last word on the fates of the surviving characters in HBO’s most popular and Emmy-winning series of all time. In theory, the project could open the door for other surviving characters from the Thrones universe to reappear – such as Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie)."

HBO would be undermining its risk-taking legacy with a Jon Snow Game of Thrones sequel series

"To this day, The Sopranos' infamous sudden stop is possibly TV’s most iconic ending," says Robert Oliver in reaction to The Hollywood Reporter's report that HBO is interested in a Jon Snow sequel series starring Kit Harington. "Was Tony shot? Did he leave the diner alive but with the constant fear that somebody might want to take him out? Will Meadow learn to park properly? None of the answers matter because the questions were the entire point. In Game of Thrones' case, Jon’s ending is enough. We can use our imaginations to fill in any blanks. There are other stories to tell. Turning the cameras back on would be a conservative move from a TV network that seems anxious about losing the Streaming Wars. That’s not something I would ever expect of HBO. If Jon comes back, where does the drama originate? Is there infighting between the wildlings? Was there a dangerous species beyond the Wall that we forgot about? Were there more White Walkers buried somewhere this whole time? Frankly, it doesn’t matter. None of us need to know. If any single network helped us understand that TV is an ideal storytelling medium, it’s HBO. Desperately clambering to answer questions left open by Game of Thrones, simply because it’s scared to lose ground in the ceaseless battle for our attention, would only undermine its history of taking huge risks and making them work." Oliver adds: "Pointless sequels and spin-offs have always existed and they always will. But I don’t think we’ve ever experienced a time like this, when so many sequels and spin-offs have been forced into existence simply because the same five or six mega-companies now own every piece of intellectual property you can think of and feel obligated to show it all off."

ALSO:

• Why a Jon Snow Game of Thrones sequel series could be "refreshing" amid an "IP apocalypse": House of the Dragon and the six other Game of Thrones spinoffs that HBO has in the works are all prequel series, notes Ben Lindbergh. "For that reason, any sequel series would be a big deal, potentially breaking a seal that has stymied HBO’s tentpole plans," he says. "And although this may be a symptom of the IP apocalypse, a sequel series that isn’t drawn directly from existing material—even one rooted in a well-known world and featuring a household-name protagonist—passes for refreshing in an entertainment landscape saturated with adaptations and prequels, the latter of which are extraordinarily difficult to do well. One advantage for HBO is that a Snow-centric sequel wouldn’t risk sullying a spotless legacy. The ending of Game of Thrones was widely reviled in 2019...and its reputation hasn’t undergone a great improvement in the intervening years....Then again, there’s no certainty that the sequel would be better than late-stage Thrones...Prequels often suffer from a lack of suspense because audiences know what comes next. A sequel to Thrones might suffer from a lack of suspense because whatever comes next likely couldn’t compare to the continents-spanning, existential struggle of its predecessor."
• Does HBO really need a Jon Snow spinoff?: "I feel like HBO has been doing just fine since Game of Thrones ended its seven-season run," says Dustin Rowles. "They’ve had Barry and Hacks and Our Flag Means Death and Station Eleven, some water-cooler shows like The Mare of Easttown and The Undoing, and one of the most-talked shows on television in Euphoria. Does it really need more Game of Thrones? A prequel series is on its way in August, and honestly, I don’t think there’s a tremendous amount of excitement surrounding it. Oh, we’ll watch it, but Game of Thrones burned us so badly that it’s more like we’re resigned to watching it rather than actively looking forward to it. We still have some unexpressed disappointment we need to rid ourselves of."
• Many Game of Thrones fans reacted to the Jon Snow news with skepticism: “Why would I trust them ever again? Season 8 was one of my worst television ever,” one fan wrote. “It was so bad it took a top five show ever and made it unwatchable.”

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George R.R. Martin and Emilia Clarke say Kit Harington pitched Jon Snow spinoff

Last week, word broke that HBO is developing a Game of Thrones sequel series spinoff starring Kit Harington’s Jon Snow. Now, the news has been confirmed by no less than the author of the novels that inspired the original show, George R.R. Martin. Via The Hollywood Reporter, Martin wrote on his site that the potential series is called Snow, and it was all Harington’s idea. George R.R. Martin and Emilia Clarke.

“Yes, it was Kit Harrington who brought the idea to us,” said Martin. “I cannot tell you the names of the writers/ showrunners, since that has not been cleared for release yet. But Kit brought them in too, his own team, and they are terrific… I am involved, just as I am with The Hedge Knight and The Sea Snake and Ten Thousand Ships, and all the animated shows. Kit’s team have visited me here in Santa Fe and worked with me and my own team of brilliant, talented writer/ consultants to hammer out the show.”

However, Martin reminded fans that none of these potential series are guaranteed to go forward. So far, only House of the Dragon has been ordered to series.

“All four of these successor shows are still in the script stage” added Martin. “The likelihood of all four series getting on the air… well, I’d love it, but that’s not the way it works, usually.”

In a separate interview with BBC, Harington’s former GoT co-star, Emilia Clarke, confirmed the news as well. She also revealed that Harington had told her about it himself.

“He has told me about it,” noted Clarke. “And I know it exists. 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.”

Regardless, Clarke said “No, I think I’m done” when asked if she could possibly reprise her role as Daenerys Targaryen. In the Game of Thrones series finale, Harington’s Jon Snow killed Daenerys before he went off into exile beyond the Wall.

For now, HBO has not officially announced Snow. But since it has been confirmed by both Martin and Clarke, it’s only a matter of time before that changes.