The world of Westeros is filled to the brim with untold tales of great potential, a reality HBO has keenly embraced with its current and planned roster of prequels and sequels. Yet, amidst this flurry of activity, there’s been barely any news surrounding the rumored Jon Snow spinoff. However, one source claims that there’s a good explanation behind the silence, and it’s a twist that might not sit well with the uproarious Game of Thrones fanbase.
During the latest episode of The Watch podcast, controversial podcaster Joanna Robinson hinted that the Jon Snow saga might be a tale of the past, labeling the project as DOA (Dead on Arrival). Admittedly, she didn’t reveal her sources or claim to be certain of this, so we’d advise you to take this information with a grain of salt.
Still, there’s good reason to believe this might be true. Besides the fact that the project has stalled for quite some time now, HBO is already knee-deep in the dragon-infested prequel, House of the Dragon, and the upcoming adaptation of the tales of Dunk and Egg. As a result, the Warner Bros. network might find the prospect of adding another branch to the Game of Thrones tree a tad overwhelming.
Furthermore, George R. R. Martin himself has teased the existence of three more projects, with Lord Corlys Velaryon’s Nine Voyages leading the way. At this point, one might argue that the Game of Thrones universe is at risk of becoming as crowded and convoluted as a certain superhero franchise we need not name.
Kit Harington also happens to be a very busy man, and getting him back as Jon Snow might not be as easy as it once was. Since the curtains fell on Game of Thrones in 2019, the 37-year-old actor has been anything but idle, juggling roles from How to Train Your Dragon to the MCU’s Eternals. In fact, the latter film’s post-credits scene suggests that Harington will likely have a longer tenure in the MCU, which does not bode well for HBO.
Even if HBO managed to get past all these hurdles, there’s still the problem of whether a Jon Snow spin-off is an idea worth pursuing. The end of Game of Thrones saw the long-lost Targaryen heir banished to the Night’s Watch after murdering Daenerys Targaryen, so as to appease Daenerys’ supporters. In the final scenes, we see him leading the wildlings back to the lands beyond the Wall, relegating his character to a role of relative insignificance.
With the Night King and his army of the dead defeated, the North and the lands beyond the Wall are no longer points of interest for audiences. All that’s left is a cold, barren wasteland that serves no purpose other than to expand the geography of Westeros. I don’t mean to be a wet blanket, but I can hardly see a story worth HBO’s time, effort, and money.
Maybe I’m dead wrong, and I may well have to eat my words, served on a platter of crow, but until such a twist occurs, the prospect of Jon Snow’s return feels as likely as GRRM finally finishing The Winds of Winter.
