George R.R. Martin, Emilia Clarke Reveal Jon Snow Spinoff Was Kit Harrington's Idea

Actor Kit Harrington seems set to return to “Game of Thrones” in a spin-off based on his character, Jon Snow.

After the news broke that he might reprise his role from The Hollywood Reporter last week, author George R.R. Martin and costars Emilia Clarke and Gwendoline Christie have weighed in on his possible return to the series.

Emilia Clarke told the BBC that Kit Harrington is definitely expected to return and the two have already discussed the project.

“He has told me about it,” Clarke said. “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.”

However, Clarke’s character of Daenerys Targaryen did not survive the series and was in fact killed by her lover Jon Snow, so it seems doubtful that she will return to the series. However, it is possible that she will return in a flashback or a dream sequence.

Gwendoline Christie, who has since gone on to star as Captain Phasma in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, was best known to fans of “Game of Thrones” as Brienne of Tarth. Brienne was fortunately about to survive all eight seasons of the series and remained open to reprising her role in the future.

Christie recently told Newsweek, “Brienne of Tarth is incredibly close to my heart, and I would relish any opportunity to revisit her. I believe she is enduring.”

Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark, and Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark, also survived the series, so it’s possible that they could make a return in the spin-off, even just in a cameo appearance. Jon Snow traveled North of the Wall to live among the wildlings in the series finale, so there’s no telling what lies in store for Jon Snow.

On Thursday, June 23, author George R.R. Martin took to his blog to provide an update on the show, revealing that its working title is Snow.

“I don’t really have a spare moment today, truth be told, but I am making one, since the news has broken about the Jon Snow development and I am being deluged with requests for comment,” he wrote. “Yes, there is a Jon Snow show in development. The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER story was largely correct.”

“There are four live-action successor shows in development at HBO,” he explained. “Word got out about three of them some time ago. TEN THOUSAND SHIPS, the Nymeria show, helmed by Amanda Segel.   SEA SNAKE, aka NINE VOYAGES, with Bruno Heller. And the Dunk & Egg show, THE HEDGE KNIGHT or KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS, with Steve Conrad writing. I think some of these were officially announced; in other cases, news leaked out.”

“SNOW has been in development almost as long as the other three, but for whatever reason it was never announced and it never leaked… until now,” he added.

“But, yes, it is true. This was not an official announcement from HBO, so it seems there was another leak,” he wrote. “There’s not much more I can tell you, not until HBO gives me a green light.”

“It seems as though Emilia Clarke has already mentioned that SNOW was Kit’s idea in a recent interview. So that part is out,” he continued. “Yes, it was Kit Harrington who brought the idea to us. 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.”

“Various rumors are floating around about my involvement, or lack of same,” he added. “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.”

“That’s all I can tell you about SNOW just now,” he concluded. “If HBO says I can tell you more, I will…”