[WARNING - This article contains SPOILERS for Game of Thrones through season 5 and possibly beyond.]
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Filming on the behemoth production that is Game of Thrones has re-started. Crews are currently on location in Northern Ireland, Spain and Croatia, working with those locales' corresponding cast members to bring season 6 to life.
When production was just beginning on season 6 and the cast was gathering in Belfast, social media quickly became flooded with reports of Kit Harington-sightings, along with incredibly detailed updates on the state of his bouncy, curly locks. Since Jon Snow's apparent death in the season 5 finale fans have debated whether or not we've actually seen the last of the young Lord Commander. However, Harington popping up in Northern Ireland just as production on Game of Thrones kicks back in gear has certainly added more fuel to the 'Jon Snow Lives' fire.
Before it became quite blatant that Harington was in Belfast as filming on season 6 was just underway, the show's producers, several cast members, and Harington himself swore up and down that yes, Jon Snow is dead. And that may still be the case, technically speaking. The truth of Jon Snow's fate is shrouded in ambiguity, which makes it oddly fitting that Harington's most recent slip-up when discussing his future with Game of Thrones is in itself a little ambiguous.
In an interview with the Belgium magazine, Humo (via Indiewire), Harington was discussing how his Game of Thrones gig was both a blessing and a curse when it came to scoring movie roles. On the one hand, Thrones has given him the notoriety needed for film roles, but his commitment to the show never allowed much time for anything else. "The show is like a double-egded sword to me," Harington says,"I owe a lot to it, but at the same time it has almost completely drained me."
But he's no longer on Game of Thrones, right? That should mean he's completely free to pursue whatever role he pleases, right? Not quite. Harington continues,
"The important thing is that I now know exactly how long I am still under contract, and in the meantime–"
It's then the interviewer interjects, asking for how many more seasons he's signed, but Harington then appeared to catch his mistake:
"Nice try (laughs). I can’t talk about that. Let’s just say that Game of Thrones will remain a part of my life for a while, I’ll probably be in my thirties when it’s over. One thing’s for sure: the day I’m no longer on Thrones is the day I’ll bury myself in movie projects (laughs)."
Actually, Kit, Game of Thrones will be a part of your life, for the rest of your life. Better get used to that now.
But in all seriousness, Harington's statements do seemingly align with the impression many have already had throughout all of this 'is he or isn't he?' nonsense: a character as pivotal as Jon Snow doesn't simply die, not without some significance coming from that death. Is Jon Snow truly dead? Probably. But we'd foolish to believe that's the end of Jon Snow or Kit Harington when it comes to Game of Thrones.
Besides, were Harington truly well and finished with Game of Thrones, he'd be in Hollywood, trying to shake off the stink of Pompeii, not slinking around Northern Ireland, trying his best not to be noticed.
NEXT: Game of Thrones Season 6 - New Cast Additions Revealed
Game of Thrones season 6 is expected to air on HBO in Spring 2016.