Kit Harington reflects on his MCU role in ‘Eternals’ and decision not to return to ‘Game of Thrones’

Kit Harington, known for his iconic role as Jon Snow in "Game of Thrones," recently opened up about his experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and why he chose not to return to Westeros. In a recent interview with GQ, Harington quipped about his 2021 role as Dane Whitman in Marvel's Eternals: "I’m not gonna pretend I took that [role] because it was different and interesting. If Marvel calls, you gotta do it." Despite his character being set up for a larger role in a potential Blade movie, the future of Harington’s involvement in the MCU remains uncertain. The Blade reboot, starring Mahershala Ali, has faced multiple setbacks, including changes in directors and screenwriters.

Eternals, directed by Chloe Zhao, was initially expected to pave the way for future installments, but its underwhelming box office performance, with $402 million globally, has reportedly stalled any sequel plans. Harington did not provide further details about his MCU future in the interview.

Harington also discussed why he ultimately decided against reprising his role as Jon Snow in a potential spinoff series. While HBO approached him about the project, he admitted, "My first reaction was no." After years of development, he eventually backed out, citing concerns that the story was not compelling 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.’"

Harington acknowledged the lasting impact of Jon Snow on his life, stating, "It might very well be the biggest, most important piece of work I do. I met my wife on it. I have kids from it. Have some lifelong friends from it." However, he emphasized the need to separate himself from the role to pursue new opportunities.