How Kit Harington just made a surprise return to the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe

Winter is coming.

Kit Harington recently returned to his iconic “Game of Thrones” character in a new way, this time to promote the newly launched mobile game “Game of Thrones: Legends.”

In the video, Harington channels his Jon Snow roots as he tackles the game’s challenges and defeats the Long Night yet again.

Kit Harington portrays Jon Snow in a scene from the seventh season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” AP
Kit Harington portrays Jon Snow in a scene from the seventh season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” AP
Sneak peek into Jon Snow in the newly launched mobile game “Game of Thrones: Legends.” Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends
Sneak peek into Jon Snow in the newly launched mobile game “Game of Thrones: Legends.” Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends

“Winter is coming,” the actor declares, strolling through a dimly lit bar adorned with motifs from the HBO series. “I’m ready to forge my own destiny. I’ve composed my strategy, refined my tactics. I’ll solve every puzzle, overcome every challenge, to defeat the deadliest threat we’ve ever faced: the Long Night.”

As he describes rallying his banners, assembling “the greatest heroes of Westeros,” and leading his house to victory, he’s bested by a woman at the bar. She triumphantly displays her phone screen and recites Ygritte’s (portrayed by Harington’s wife Rose Leslie) famous line from the show: “You knw nothing Jon Snow,” before Harington interrupts with, “Don’t say it.”

However, after a strategic “Dracarys” leads him to victory, Harington retorts, “I do know some things.”

“Game of Thrones: Legends” is a role-playing puzzle game where the players can “build and lead their own Westeros house, honing their tactics and skill as they strategically assemble a team of champions, equip weapons and gear, and face formidable foes from the Game of Thrones universe,” per the official description. The game offers quests in story mode and real-time Raids.

The game features characters from both “Game of Thrones” and its spinoff “House of the Dragon,” including Rhaenyra Targaryen, Arya Stark, Drogon, the Hound and Ser Criston Cole.

Kit Harington stepped back into the “Game of Thrones” universe, with nods to his character Jon Snow. Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends
Kit Harington stepped back into the “Game of Thrones” universe, with nods to his character Jon Snow. Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends
“Winter is coming,” the actor declares. Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends
“Winter is coming,” the actor declares. Youtube/Game of Thrones: Legends

For Harington, the game provided the perfect opportunity for him to reconnect with Jon Snow and the GoT world.

“The creativity and care taken to create Game of Thrones: Legends is obvious and it feels completely natural to jump back into Westeros for this game,” he said. “This is a true love letter to the fans, of whom the franchise would be nothing without, and I’m honored to pay tribute to them in this new campaign.”

There was previous speculation about a “Game of Thrones” centered on Harington’s Jon Snow, but the project was shelved in April.

Harington as Jon Snow in Season 8 of “Game of Thrones.”
Harington as Jon Snow in Season 8 of “Game of Thrones.”

“I hadn’t really ever spoken about it, because it was in development,” Harington told Screen Rant while promoting his film “Blood For Dust.”

“I didn’t want it leaked out that it was being developed, and I didn’t want the thing to happen where people kind of start theorizing, getting either excited about it or hating the idea of it, when it may never happen.”

Harington noted that creators were exploring “every angle” to determine if “Snow” was worth pursuing.

“Currently, it’s not,” he said. “Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough. So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being.”

While the spinoff could potentially be revisited in the future, it remains “firmly on the shelf” for now.