The Game of Thrones series died back in 2019, but certain members of the pack, apparently, survive. The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood-reports that HBO is in the early stages of developing yet another spin-off from the wildly popular fantasy series, this time focusing on hairy sad man Jon Snow.
The new series will be set after the events of Game of Thrones, with actor Kit Harington already attached to reprise his role as Westeros’ most depressed pile of fur. For those of you who blocked Game of Thrones‘ deeply unsatisfying ending from your mind, it concluded with Snow aka Aegon Targaryen murdering his aunt/lover/queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and being exiled to Castle Black once more. The melancholy sasquatch then left Westeros to travel beyond the Wall, ostensibly to live out the rest of his days with the Free Folk (aka Wildlings).
The spinoff will follow what this sad sack does next, because the sequences north of the Wall were definitely the most riveting part of Game of Thrones.
No Game of Thrones veterans other than Harington have yet been confirmed as returning for this new series, though of course some are more likely to appear than others. While the best hope for Clarke’s return would be in a flashback or dream sequence, Free Folk warrior Tormund (Kristofer Hivju) was last seen accompanying Snow beyond the Wall.
Snow’s cousins/adopted sisters Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) are less likely to cameo, having become Queen in the North and a travelling adventurer respectively, though it isn’t entirely impossible. It should also be noted that Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) — the object of Tormund’s ardent affection — also made it to Game of Thrones‘ series finale with a pulse, albeit still residing in Westeros.
If this new series finally gives us a romance between Tormund and Brienne, it will single-handedly justify its entire existence.
This new Jon Snow series is the eighth Game of Thrones spinoff to be announced, with four other live-action series and three animated series in varying stages of development. The first to be released will be the House of the Dragon prequel series, premiering on Aug. 21 and featuring Matt Smith’s confronting hairline.