The star of Game of Thrones and the upcoming MCU feature Eternals, Kit Harington, says that he will find it difficult to watch the prequel series House of the Dragon. Based on the fantasy novel series called A Song of Ice and Fire written by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones aired on HBO and ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019. It received universal acclaim and multiple accolades, including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for its last four seasons. Although the final Game of Thrones season 8 was heavily panned by both the fanbase and critics alike, many publications still rank the show as one the best television series of all time.
The story is set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos and follows multiple plotlines across both continents, where nine noble families fight for the control of the Iron Throne. Throughout the series, there are multiple fantasy elements on display such as magic, swordplay, and fantastical creatures like dragons and the White Walkers, but these elements are downplayed in favor of human drama and political intrigue. The series boasted an ensemble cast alongside Kit Harington, including the likes of fellow Eternals star Richard Madden, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Emilia Clarke, and Pedro Pascal, to mention a few.
While promoting his new MCU film Eternals, Harington, who played the role of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, was asked about his time on the show and his thoughts on the upcoming spin-off. He expressed that it "might be painful" to watch the prequel as he feels he has is a lot of "emotion" connected to the series. Harington also mentioned that due to the two series' similarities in the "music and style and tone," it would be difficult to see that he's not a part of it anymore. Read Harington's full comments below:
"There's emotion connected to that for me. I think to see people get into outfits and costumes, that resemble what we wore for all those years, and it [has] the same music and style and tone, but not be in it is always going to feel — There's going to be a rawness there."
The English actor did state that he will eventually tune in to the prequel series when it airs and voiced his support for the Emmy Award-winning showrunner of House of the Dragon Miguel Sapochnik. The director also helmed some of the most beloved Game of Thrones episodes like "Hardhome" and "Battle of the Bastards." Harington also admitted that with the story being "so close to my heart," there may be some pain in watching it, but he also sent his best wishes to the team behind House of the Dragon, which speaks a lot about his love for the franchise that gave him the role of a lifetime.
Game of Thrones attracted record viewership on HBO throughout its run and had a major impact on modern television. While the series may not have ended the way fans would have hoped, it will still be remembered for its surprising writing, epic set-pieces, and iconic characters, including Jon Snow himself. Harrington's feelings on the forthcoming House of the Dragon are quite understandable, as he played a substantial part throughout the original series' eight-season run. Nevertheless, the star has plenty to look forward to having bagged a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which likely would never have been possible without his star turn in Game of Thrones.
Source: InsiderWatch