HBO Cancels Jon Snow Spin-Off, But George R.R. Martin Reveals Other Game of Thrones Sequels in Development

Kit Harington didn’t expect to be the one breaking the news — but there he was, in early 2023, quietly confirming what fans had been whispering about for months: the long-rumored Kit Harington spin-off series, centered on Jon Snow, was dead. HBO had quietly shelved the project, and Harington, now 38, admitted in a candid interview that he’d stayed silent for fear of leaks. "I hadn’t really ever spoken about it, because it was in development," he said. "I didn’t want it leaked out that it was being developed." The decision wasn’t just about creative differences — it was a strategic recalibration of an empire that once ruled television.

Why the Jon Snow Series Died

The planned series, announced in 2022, was meant to pick up where the Game of Thrones finale left off: Jon Snow, exiled beyond the Wall, walking among the Free Folk, his identity as Aegon Targaryen a secret only the audience truly knew. It was supposed to be the emotional anchor for the franchise’s next chapter. But after the polarizing Season 8, HBO grew wary of tying its future to a character whose arc had already ended — and ended controversially. The network didn’t want to risk another backlash. So, despite Harington’s enthusiasm and the character’s enduring popularity, the project was quietly tabled.

George R.R. Martin’s Surprise Announcement

Then came the Iceland Noir FestivalReykjavík in November 2025. There, George R.R. Martin, 76, delivered a bombshell. "A sequel or two," he told the crowd, "are still in development." The room fell silent. Fans had assumed the Jon Snow project was the last gasp of the franchise’s post-finale ambitions. But Martin, ever the cryptic storyteller, had been working behind the scenes. He didn’t name names, but the implication was clear: HBO wasn’t abandoning Westeros — it was just changing the story.

The Real Future of Westeros

HBO’s roadmap for the Game of Thrones universe is now clearer than ever. The most immediate successor is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a prequel set decades before the original series, starring Derek Riddell as Ser Duncan the Tall. Already renewed for Season 2 before its January 2026 premiere, it’s proof that HBO still believes in the franchise’s commercial power.

But the bigger plays are still in the oven. According to deep-dive analysis from Emergency Awesome and WinterIsComing.net, HBO is actively developing multiple sequels set after Season 8. One involves Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark, in a project reportedly being co-developed with Martin himself. Another is an epic about Aegon the Conqueror, the founder of the Targaryen dynasty — potentially a multi-season saga that could premiere as late as 2031. There’s even talk of a film.

What Else Is in the Pipeline?

The list of abandoned or in-development spin-offs reads like a fan’s dream journal:

• Blood Moon — A costly pilot was filmed, starring Naomi Watts, about the original Long Night and the White Walkers’ first invasion. Killed for being "too dark," even by Game of Thrones standards.
• A series about Princess Nymeria and her 10,000 ships, a legendary warrior-queen who conquered Dorne.
• A show chronicling the nine voyages of Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake — a character already beloved from House of the Dragon.
• An animated series set in Yi Ti, the mysterious eastern land hinted at in the books.
• A gritty, street-level drama focused on Flea Bottom, King’s Landing’s slums.
• A Braavos-based series exploring the Faceless Men and the Iron Bank’s political machinations.

Why This Matters

The cancellation of the Jon Snow series wasn’t a failure — it was a pivot. HBO realized that the franchise’s future didn’t lie in retreading old ground, but in expanding its mythos. By shifting focus to Aegon the Conqueror and Arya Stark’s next chapter, they’re not just chasing nostalgia — they’re building a legacy. This isn’t about one man’s exile. It’s about the rise of a new dynasty, the return of forgotten queens, and the quiet power of stories that outlive their heroes.

And here’s the twist: Jon Snow’s story might be over — but the world he left behind? It’s just getting started.