Rumored Jon Snow Sequel Series Is Reportedly Dead

George R.R. Martin confirmed in June 2022 that HBO was in the early stages of developing a "Game of Thrones" sequel series focused on the journey of protagonist Jon Snow, called "Snow."

Kit Harrington brought the idea to the network to reprise his role as Snow and give fans a more satisfying conclusion, detailed Martin.

"Game of Thrones" ended in 2019 as the last piece of monocultural television in an era of streaming and content overload. No show has filled that void in terms of mass interest. 

A Jon Snow sequel series would.

However, little emerged about the project following Martin's tease almost two years ago. In November, OutKick asked, "Whatever happened to the rumored Jon Snow sequel?"

On cue, HBO CEO Casey Bloys addressed the status a week later, saying the project was "not close."

And it likely never will be close.

Joanna Robinson of Bill Simmons' The Ringer reported earlier this month that while she couldn't confirm the news, sources told her the sequel is not going to happen.

"I’ve heard that the Jon Snow series is kind of DoA [Dead on Arrival]. Kit Harrington was like, ‘We’re gonna make a Jon Snow series,’ but I’ve heard it’s not going [to happen]," Robinson said on The Watch podcast.

Since June 2022, HBO greenlit a second "Thrones" spinoff to coincide with "House of the Dragon" called "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" based on Martin's "Dunk and Egg" novellas. 

The "Knight" project starts production later this year.

Last week, The Hollywood Reporter reported that HBO is developing a third sequel series, the third depicting Aegon Targaryen's conquest.

The series is not official but far enough along in development to suggest HBO plans to move forward.  HBO already assigned writer Mattson Tomlin, who is co-writing "The Batman Part II," to craft the series. 

Per the report, the show already has a synopsis:

"The story follows the invader Aegon Targaryen, who conquered the continent of Westeros with his sister wives, Rhaenys and Visenya, and their dragons. Aegon successfully unified six of the Seven Kingdoms in just two years, with only Dorne able to successfully resist."

Each "Thrones" series requires a hefty investment in CGI, computer-generated imagery. The projects are pricey. They are timely. Plus, HBO can only air so many concurrently before risking a dilution of the franchise. 

More than three shows at once would dilute the franchise.

And it's hard to envision HBO kicking the "Snow" can down the road and revisiting it later. Unlike prequels, sequels are time-sensitive. 

Sequels require a continuation of a previous storyline with some of the same characters as the previous series. Sequels developed too many years apart rarely prove worth the wait. 

See "The Godfather Part III," for proof. 

May marks five years since the "Game of Thrones" finale. The sand in the hourglass for a direct sequel is about to run out.

And because George R.R. Martin is unlikely to ever finish the novel series on which "Thrones" is based, this much-maligned closing shot is probably the end as it pertains to Jon Snow: