Game of Thrones could have been greatly different if the series’ creators had cast someone other than Kit Harington in the role of Jon Snow. The curly-haired and doe-eyed character instantly won over the hearts of viewers and served as a fan favorite for much of the series. Due to Jon’s prominence at the center of the HBO fantasy, Harington evolved into one of the faces of the series; however, a handful of other actors tried their hand at portraying the character, and the show may have looked very different if someone else had been cast as the Bastard of Winterfell.
Jon Snow played an important role in the series by providing an outside perspective. He may have been accepted by his siblings, but he was still an outsider in the eyes of many higher-ranking members aligned with House Stark. After joining the Night’s Watch in the Game of Thrones’ debut season, Jon exemplified himself as the moral compass of the series. He prioritized justice and doing the right thing over pursuing political power. Even though Jon had no interest in being a leader, he acquired a horde of followers who believed in his guidance. Jon took charge against the threat of the White Walkers and eventually saved Westeros from great destruction on a number of occasions.
The role of Jon Snow was one of the first parts cast for HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s popular book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. It was planned from the beginning that the series would heavily focus on the respective journeys of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, so it was key that the chosen actors fit the vision for the roles. Tamzin Merchant was originally cast as Dany, but the role was later recast with Emilia Clarke, which worked out in the end. Harington was cast as Jon from the beginning, but a number of other Game of Thrones actors auditioned for the lead role. The notable actors include Iwan Rheon, Alfie Allen, and Joe Dempsie.
Why Kit Harington Was Cast As Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the Game of Thrones creators, first saw Harington in a stage production of War Horse. Harington wasn’t a well-known actor at the time, but he embodied what they imagined for Jon Snow. He played a country boy who did a lot of brooding, something that Game of Thrones viewers would agree Jon did a lot of in the show’s eight seasons. Harington also won over the creative team in his handful of auditions. In one of them, Harington was tasked with performing a scene involving Ygritte that later came up in season 3. Coincidentally enough, the actress who portrayed Ygritte, Rose Leslie, turned out to be Harington’s future wife.
Casting Harington proved to be a good decision for Game of Thrones. The actor gave one of the most prolific performances throughout the show’s long-term run. He grew to develop worldwide recognition and was honored with a number of award nominations, including the lone Game of Thrones nomination for the 2020 Golden Globes. It also worked out for those who lost out on the role of Jon Snow. Iwan Rheon didn’t play the Bastard of Winterfell, but he was cast as another bastard, Ramsay Bolton. Alfie Allen also lost out on the role but was viewed as a fit for Theon Greyjoy. Joe Dempsie lost out on a number of parts before being cast as Gendry, a character who ended up having a long-term arc. All in all, the casting fell into place and the Game of Thrones creators shouldn’t have any regrets.
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