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Tag: kit-harington

  • Kit Harington Criticizes ‘Game of Thrones’ Final Season as “Rushed”

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' Photo: HBO.
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’ Photo: HBO.

    Preview:

    • Kit Harington is opening up about ‘Game of Thrones’ final season.
    • He also talks about the stalled Jon Snow spin-off.
    • The actor is returning to HBO for the new season of corporate drama ‘Industry’.

    Kit Harington may never completely shake off the career-making role of Jon Snow on HBO’s giant fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones’. He played the character for the entire run of the show, which became a huge success but also suffered criticism for what many thought was a lackluster wrap up.

    Even now, with the show over for several years, Harington is asked about it, and he’s willing to share his honest opinions in a new interview with GQ.

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    What did Kit Harington say about ‘Game of Thrones’ final season?

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' Photo: HBO.
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’ Photo: HBO.

    There was plenty of backlash to the final season of ‘Thrones’, with fans unhappy with many of the creative team’s choices. It would appear Harington concurs:

    “I think if there was any fault with the end of ‘Thrones’, is that we were all so fucking tired, we couldn’t have gone on longer. And so I understand some people thought it was rushed and I might agree with them. But I’m not sure there was any alternative. I look at pictures of me in that final season and I look exhausted. I look spent. I didn’t have another season in me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think there were mistakes made, story-wise, towards the end maybe. I think there were some interesting choices that didn’t quite work.”

    What has happened to the ‘Thrones’ spin-off ‘Snow’, which would have followed his character in the years after the climactic final season?

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' Photo: HBO.
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’ Photo: HBO.

    There was chatter back in 2022 when ‘Thrones’ novelist (and series consultant) George R.R. Martin mentioned in his blog that he was working on developing the show, which had Harington producing as well as starring.

    But according to the actor himself, it seems unlikely to ever happen now:

    “What I can tell you is it was HBO that came to me and said, ‘Would you consider this?’ My first reaction was no. And then I thought there could be an interesting and important story about the soldier after the war. I felt that there might be something left to say, and a story left to tell in a pretty limited way. 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.’”

    Related Article: HBO is Developing a ‘Game of Thrones’ Sequel Series Following Jon Snow

    Where else can we see Kit Harington?

    Harington has return to the HBO fold of late, becoming part of the cast of corporate drama ‘Industry’ which started its third season recently. He plays the wealthy Sir Henry Muck, who claims to be leading a green revolution while ripping off his customers.

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' Photo: HBO.
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’ Photo: HBO.

    TV Shows in the ‘Game of Thrones’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Game of Thrones’ TV On Amazon

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  • DreamWorks Plans ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live Action Movie

    Hiccup and Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.'
    Hiccup and Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.’

    Disney had been getting a lot of mileage out of turning its animated classic canon into live-action (and usually live-action/CG mixes) with the likes of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, ‘The Lion King’ and this year’s ‘The Little Mermaid’, it was perhaps only a matter of time before other studios decided to give it a try.

    The first to step up are Universal and DreamWorks Animation, who have started work on a live-action adaptation of the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ stories.

    ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ first took to the cine-skies in 2010 with the successful first outing, which was followed in 2014 by ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ and in 2019 with the final film in the trilogy (at least so far) ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’.

    Dean DeBlois, who wrote all three films, co-directed the first with Chris Sanders and took on the other two alone, is aboard to write, direct and produce this new film, where he’ll face the unenviable task of bringing central dragon Toothless to life in live-action, and somehow making him as charming as the beloved animated version.

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    What’s the story of ‘How to Train Your Dragon?

    Adapted from Cressida Cowell’s novel series, which saw its first book hit shelves in 2003, the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ movies focused on the special friendship between a young and unheroic Viking boy named Hiccup and Toothless, an injured dragon he nurses back to health.

    Set in a Viking island-based village called Berk, the story is set in a world where humans see dragons as a problem––either a sheep-stealing nuisance or deadly threat, depending on the type of beast. We followed Hiccup and Toothless’ quest to combat humanity’s prejudice against dragons, the ache of overcoming the loss of a parent, and first love. And uniquely, the films did so by consistently aging the protagonists commensurately with the story, becoming a true coming-of-age story.

    Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup, with the supporting characters of the Viking boy’s friends, including Jonah Hill as Snotlout, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs, T.J. Miller as Tuffnut and Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut.

    Aside from the core group, the movies also featured the voices of Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington and more.

    Hiccup and Toothless from 'How to Train Your Dragon.'
    Hiccup and Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’

    Related Article: ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ Director Dean DeBlois on His Own Epic Journey

    What else is there to the franchise?

    The ‘Dragon’ movies have been successful enough to spawn a wealth of merchandise (including a Build-A-Bear Toothless tie-in, clothes, games, toys and more).

    And it has also generated several TV spin-offs featuring other dragon riders, which have screened on Cartoon Network, Netflix and Hulu.

    Universal clearly believes this is a franchise that can make the leap, and has already planted a flag in March 14th, 2025 for the movie’s theatrical release.

    2014's 'How to Train Your Dragon 2.'
    2014’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2.’

    Other Movies Similar to ‘How to Train Your Dragon:’

    Buy ‘How to Train your Dragon’ Movies On Amazon

  • George R.R. Martin Confirms the ‘Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow Sequel Series

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

    There were ripples in ‘Game of Thrones’ fandom a few days ago when word emerged that a spin-off series about Kit Harrington’s Jon Snow character was in consideration at HBO. And, while he doesn’t always comment, ‘Thrones’ novelist George R.R. Martin has taken to his famous blog to confirm that the series is in the works.

    The sequel series, which had been rumored as far back as 2016, is, according to Martin, currently simply titled ‘Snow’ and has been in development almost as long as the other live-action ‘Thrones’ spin-offs (more on those below).

    “‘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,” says Martin.

    The writer (and ‘Thrones’ adaptation consultant) also commented on Emilia Clarke’s recent revelation during a TV interview that it was actually Harrington who had brought the concept to HBO. “He has told me about it,” Clarke told the BBC. “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.” Though queried as to whether she’d be up for returning as Daenerys Targaryen, she replied, “No, I think I’m done.” Short of being revived in some fantastical fashion, Dany is done too, as she died at Snow’s hands during the ‘Thrones’ series finale.

    George R.R. Martin on the set of HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    George R.R. Martin on the set of HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

    “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,” Martin enthuses. “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.”

    While prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ – which touches down on HBO on August 21st – the other shows based around ‘Thrones’ are, according to Martin, still very much at the script stage and may not make it to screens. He also mentioned that he’s involved in some fashion in them all: ‘10,000 Ships’ (aka ‘Nymeria’) which has a showrunner in Amanda Segel, ‘9 Voyages’ (aka ‘The Sea Snake’) overseen by Bruno Heller, and ‘The Hedge Knight’, drawn from the ‘Dunk and Egg’ stories, run by Steve Conrad.

    There are also three animated prequel projects, including ‘The Golden Empire’, which is set in the China-inspired land of Yi Ti.

    Finally, Martin addressed his frustration that a recent print interview he gave about competition in the fantasy sphere was twisted by some outlets to make it sound like he wanted to “beat” incoming ‘Lord of the Rings’ prequel series ‘The Rings of Power’. “I expect I will be watching ‘Rings of Power’ when it premieres. I want it to be great. I want it to run for many years, to win Emmys and Golden Globes. And I want the same for ‘House of the Dragon’. Regardless of awards, I want both shows to find an appreciative audience, and give them great television. Great fantasy. The more fantasy hits we have, the more great fantasy we are likely to get.”

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow Sequel Series in Development

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

    As Rose Leslie’s Ygritte once (and then more than once) mockingly observed, “you know nothing, Jon Snow.” Yet an awful lot of ‘Game of Thrones’ story was built around Kit Harrington’s character, the bastard son of a king who ditched a potential destiny as a ruler himself after he had to kill his other great love – Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys– when she became consumed by vengeance.

    If he’s the person whose you always wanted to keep following in Westeros, then we’ve good news: HBO is looking to make your dreams come true, throwing a sequel series following Snow into development.

    No official announcement has been made about this yet – word comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, which has heard that the series is at a very early stage.

    Nor do we know who is involved in writing the series, assuming that decision has even been made. Even given that it continues one of the characters they helped bring to the screen, ‘Thrones’ showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have long since moved on to other things.

    We would guess, though, that ‘Thrones’ novelist and series overseer George RR Martin will have a say in what happens, even if it’s simply rubber-stamping what someone else decides to do. Especially since he’s A) still busy writing ‘Thrones’ books and B) is involved in the various prequel series and other spin-offs (see below).

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

    In the series finale, Snow was exiled from Westeros and journeyed North of the Wall with the Wildlings to leave his old life behind. Any story would therefore have to pick up after that, unless the idea is to dig into moments from his time on the show we didn’t see, which wouldn’t make much sense since he was one of the focal points of the show.

    This represents HBO really looking to expand its ‘Thrones’ universe in a similar way to Disney’s use of Marvel, ‘Star Wars’ and other properties to fuel its streaming service.

    It’s a change from HBO too, which has so far, in live-action, at least, been focused on shows outside of the original ‘Thrones’ run. After a failed pilot for one prequel show, HBO does have ‘House of the Dragon’ on the way on August 21st, the series digging into a civil war within House Targaryen and set about 200 years before the events in ‘Thrones’.

    And that’s just the one that is headed to screens. Still battling their way through development are ‘10,000 Ships’ (aka ‘Nymeria’) which has a showrunner in Amanda Segel, ‘9 Voyages’ (aka ‘The Sea Snake’) overseen by Bruno Heller, and ‘Dunk and Egg’, run by Steve Conrad.

    There are also three animated prequel projects, including ‘The Golden Empire’, which is set in the China-inspired land of Yi Ti.

    Whether you want them or not, more ‘Thrones’ shows will be on our screens. Though if we’re truly honest, the characters we’d really be interested in catching up with are Arya (Maisie Williams), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) or even Drogon. What’s that big guy been up to since he melted the Iron Throne and flew off with Dany’s body? ‘My Favorite Dragon’? We can see the sitcom possibilities even now! (It would still be better than ‘Friends’ spinoff ‘Joey’).

    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'
    Kit Harington as Jon Snow on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’

  • Kit Harington Is Joining the MCU, But Who’s He Playing?

    HBO

    Word out of Disney’s D23 Expo is that “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington is joining the MCU.

    But, like Jon Snow himself, we have to admit we know nothing at this point.

    Still, the collision of these two titanic fandoms is news indeed.

    Fellow “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden was previously announced to star as Ikaris in “The Eternals,” opposite Angelina Jolie. 

    At one point, Mother of Dragons herself Emilia Clarke was in consideration to play the lead villain in “Iron Man 3,” but, apparently, Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter thought fans wouldn’t buy an action figure of a female villain and the script was rewritten.

    We’ll add more details as we learn them about Harington’s MCU role.

    For more coverage from the D23 Expo 2019, click here!

    [Via Deadline]

  • Kit Harington Checked Into Rehab After Filming Bleak ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale

    Kit Harington Checked Into Rehab After Filming Bleak ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale

    HBO

    Filming the brutal ending of “Game of Thrones” has reportedly taken a toll on star Kit Harington, who checked into rehab for stress and alcohol use before the show’s series finale, Page Six reports.

    The end of the show, especially [SPOILER] his character Jon Snow having to kill his lover, “really hit him hard,” multiple sources confirmed to the gossip page.

    Wife Rose Leslie, who played previous love Ygritte on the HBO hit series, is being “extremely supportive,” according to the article. “Everyone close to him really wanted him to get some rest. Right now, he just needs peace and quiet.”

    A rep for the actor told Page Six, “Kit has decided to utilize this break in his schedule as an opportunity to spend some time at a wellness retreat to work on some personal issues.”

    Behind-the-scenes footage of the first table read for the finale  showed Harington breaking down in tears and holding his hand over his mouth in horror as he learned his character would kill power-mad lover Daenerys (Emilia Clarke).

    https://twitter.com/jorywea/status/1132819302980177925

    He later told Jimmy Fallon, “I was very shocked and surprised … then I blubbed my eyes out. I cried.”

    He recently told Variety he was very uncomfortable about becoming the focus of the show when Jon Snow was killed and then came back to life: “My darkest period was when the show seemed to become so much about Jon…  When you become the cliffhanger of a TV show, and a TV show probably at the height of its power, the focus on you is f—–g terrifying.

    “That was a time when I started therapy and started talking to people,” he said, “I had felt very unsafe, and I wasn’t talking to anyone.”

    He also told Esquire in April that he had a “full-on breakdown” after filming his final scenes for “Game of Thrones” and that he felt he was” being skinned” after taking off his costume.

    “My final day of shooting, I felt fine… then I went to do my last shots and started hyperventilating a bit …Then they called ‘wrap’ and I just f—-g broke down. It was this onslaught of relief and grief about not being able to do this again.”

    We wish him all the best, of course.

    Other “Games of Thrones” stars recently shared what an emotional toll filming the devastating Red Wedding scene took on them.

    All the hugs, everyone.

  • ‘Game of Thrones’: Kit Harington Teases ‘Twisted and Uncomfortable’ Vibe in Next Episode

    ‘Game of Thrones’: Kit Harington Teases ‘Twisted and Uncomfortable’ Vibe in Next Episode

    Kit Harington in Game of Thrones
    Helen Sloan/HBO

    At this point, “Game of Thrones” fans should expect engrossing episodes every week, but star Kit Harington has just set the bar even higher for the next Season 8, Episode 4.

    The actor, who plays Jon Snow, recently opened up to EW about the upcoming episode, and he revealed that it’s “one of [his] favorites.” Apparently, that’s because it will have audiences feeling unsettled.

    If you aren’t  up to date on “Game of Thrones” Season 8 yet, there are spoilers ahead!

    The issue, as Harington (Jon Snow) explained, is that the Battle of Winterfell went surprisingly well for the characters in the North. They won the battle, most of the major players survived, and the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) was slayed. It all seems too good to be true.

    “As an audience you’re going, ‘This is only episode 4, something’s going to happen,’” Harington told EW. “And that’s the cool thing because I think the characters are aware of this as well. There’s something twisted and uncomfortable about it.”

    Harington described the feeling as “Shakespearean,” which seems apt. There is still a tangled web to unravel and the Iron Throne to fight over. As Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) indicated in the promo for the upcoming episode, the great war is over but the last war is still to come.

    Of course, Harington didn’t spill anything about whether or not viewers’ anxiety will be warranted; the cast is under strict instructions to maintain the show’s secrecy. Yet, we’ve seen seven seasons’ worth of evidence that the story can be very, very brutal. Needless to say, we’re on edge going into Episode 4.

    “Game of Thrones” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

    [via: EW]

  • ‘Saturday Night Live’ Imagines All the ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoffs You Could Want

    ‘Saturday Night Live’ Imagines All the ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoffs You Could Want

    NBC

    “Game of Thrones” is coming to an end soon, winding down the last piece of monoculture we have left. Or maybe not the last, since HBO already has one spinoff in the works.

    And according to “Saturday Night Live’s” imagining, many more could follow it.

    “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington hosted this past weekend’s episode. His Jon Snow is at the center of a “sexy, moody drama about forbidden love” — with a White Walker. Sure, she’s dead, but he was once dead, too!

    “That was different, and you know it!” he replies. Men, amirite?

    There’s also an animated series with Arya navigating high school, a family sitcom with Sam and Gilly, and — the best one — “Game of Thrones: Special Victims Unit.”

    From producer “Dire Wolf,” the preview shows Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T patrolling around Flea Bottom, discussing the latest gruesome murder. Someone gouged a guy’s eyes out and fed them to him? Bingo. Just another day in the mean streets of King’s Landing.

  • New ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Poster Teases Deadly ‘Great War’

    New ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Poster Teases Deadly ‘Great War’

    HBO

    The eighth and final season of HBO fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” is coming, and a new poster for the farewell episodes promises that the impending wintry war will be a deadly one for the residents of Westeros.

    In the image, we can make out many familiar faces, though it’s a chilling — quite literally — depiction.

    HBO

    A large pile of bodies — topped by those belonging to Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), the Night King (Vladimir Furdik), and many, many more — can be seen partially buried in the snow, a sobering reminder that truly no one is safe as the series winds down. Taken in as a whole, the image reveals that all those corpses are forming the silhouette of the Iron Throne, a metaphor for how much bloodshed is required to seize control of the Seven Kingdoms.

    The poster is also a direct nod to the upcoming Battle of Winterfell, the epic clash between the North and the Night King’s army. The official “Game of Thrones” Twitter account hinted at that fact, captioning the image, “The great war was here.”

    We’ll see how it all unfolds — and which of those bodies is truly a goner — soon enough. Season eight of “Game of Thrones” premieres on April 14.

  • ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Maisie Williams Teases Arya and Sansa Bond in Final Season

    ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Maisie Williams Teases Arya and Sansa Bond in Final Season

    Helen Sloan/HBO

    The Stark sisters have finally reunited on “Game of Thrones,” and their bond will be stronger than ever as the series moves into its final season. That’s the word from star Maisie Williams, who’s sharing some intriguing teases about her character, Arya.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Williams dished about season eight — set to debut next month  — and the inevitable high body count, no doubt thanks in large part to the epic, record-breaking Battle of Winterfell. While the actress stayed mum on her character’s ultimate fate in that clash, she did offer this tease: “There’s a lot of death this year.”

    As if we’d expect anything else from “Thrones.”

    Regardless of where Arya ends up, Williams told EW that she appreciated the character’s journey throughout the series, and how the show set her on a “full circle” path. In season eight, Arya is caught between fighting for the normalcy of her youth, while “remaining on this path to try and kill Cersei and remembering her list and getting closer to that,” the actress said.

    “So there’s this split with Arya between trying to be who she wants to be — getting back to the naïveté and innocence with her family — and unfinished business,” Williams added.

    As for her bond with her family, Arya and Sansa (Sophie Turner) will present a united front in season eight, especially when it comes to dealing with their adopted brother, Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

    “It’s not often you see a character siding with Sansa who’s not manipulating her,” Williams explained to EW. “Last season it was really tough for Sansa because Jon was thinking with his penis and it kind of made Sansa look bitter. This season you see Arya teaming with Sansa and sometimes calling out Jon. It felt nice and powerful to stand next to Sophie. Sophie and I are the tightest of friends when sitting across from anyone, so no acting required.”

    Fans will find out soon enough what happens to Arya and the rest of Winterfell when the eighth and final season of “Game of Thrones” premieres on HBO on April 14.

    [via: Entertainment Weekly]