Summary

• HBO is developing a Jon Snow spinoff show, and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss shared a fun idea for it.
• They joked about following Jon Snow as an older man, but this could actually work, seeing him face new threats and challenges.
• Starting the spinoff generations later would provide a fresh and unique take, distancing itself from the controversial ending of Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones’ ending, HBO has developed multiple spinoffs set in Westeros. Only one - House of the Dragon - has made it to screen so far, but many more are planned. Arguably the most surprising of those is a Jon Snow spinoff show, with Kit Harington set to return.

Harington himself took the idea to HBO, and it’s the only spinoff in development that would pick up after the main show (as far as anyone knows, at least). Game of Thrones’ creators responded to Jon Snow’s sequel, saying they “don’t know” if it’s something they’d return for. Benioff and Weiss did, however, offer up an idea for it, discussing one with a much older Jon, played by a Harington who “has real gray in his beard.” The idea would be for “one last ride,” for Jon Snow, and in truth it’s quite compelling.

Old Man Jon Snow Could Actually Be An Interesting Game Of Thrones Sequel

Although clearly a joke from Benioff and Weiss, there is merit in exploring the idea of a show following Jon Snow as an old (or at least considerably older) man. Part of the problem with a Game of Thrones sequel following Jon is that there was no real setup. He's still alive, but his arc has a proper conclusion; the White Walkers are gone, and there’s a relative sense of peace with King Bran Stark (and Queen Sansa Stark in Winterfell). It’s hard to build on too closely, which is where an old Jon Snow could come in.

Doing it this way would allow for the landscape to have changed more drastically, and to have done so in a more organic way thanks to the age of time. New threats could have emerged, strong rivalries beyond the Wall could have formed, and the political makeup of Westeros could have changed, meaning there would be more potential avenues to create challenges for Jon Snow to face.

Picking up with Jon Snow decades later would also provide some crucial distance from Game of Thrones’ ending. Given how controversial season 8 was, then following on too closely may be a difficult sell. Starting generations later can ensure the Jon Snow sequel feels fresh and unique. Any Game of Thrones characters who return in Jon Snow’s show would benefit too, as the reunions would’ve been longer in the making and be more emotional as a result.

It would also be very fitting for Jon Snow’s story for him to have “one last ride.” He left Westeros with a lot of trauma, and having done all his fighting. Jon deserves years of peace, but imagine if he had to be dragged back out of that life for a last battle. Ever the reluctant but inevitable hero, an older Jon - evoking the men who shaped him, such as Jeor Mormont and Mance Rayder - leading the Wildlings and Night's Watch to a victory over some new threat is absolutely a story that suits the character.

Why Benioff & Weiss Won't Be Involved In Game Of Thrones' Jon Snow Spinoff

Of course, an old man Jon Snow sequel is very unlikely to happen. There are various reasons for that, including the difficulty of aging Harington up so much (or recasting the role), and obviously it’s impossible to predict what shows might happen decades from now. Not only that but, despite Benioff and Weiss saying they “don’t know,” if they’ll be involved, it’s almost certain they won’t be in any form.

Game of Thrones' Jon Snow sequel is in development, but has not yet been ordered to series by HBO.

Benioff and Weiss rejected credit on House of the Dragon, despite the financial incentives that would’ve come with it, as they didn’t want their names attached to something they weren’t directly involved in. The pair have moved on to other projects, such as Netflix’s 3-Body Problem, and shown no interest in returning to Westeros. That feeling is likely mutual when it comes to Game of Thrones’ fans - for all their great work on the show, they were the center of the backlash to season 8.

Harington has been developing the Jon Snow sequel himself, with an unconfirmed team of writers that he himself brought in. He obviously has his own ideas about where Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow spinoff should go, and while it wouldn’t be surprising if he did ask Benioff and Weiss for advice, it would be a shock if their involvement went beyond that. It remains to be seen what happens with it, but it won’t be made by Benioff and Weiss, and it probably won’t be about old Jon Snow either.