Kit Harington Done With Historical Dramas After 'Game of Thrones' and 'Gunpowder'
Kit Harington no longer wants to film with swords and horses after he's done with "Game of Thrones" and his upcoming miniseries "Gunpowder." The actor realized he should seek to do projects that are set more currently next time.
Harington expressed his desire to do a "modern" show or film while promoting "Gunpowder," which will air this October on BBC. He said he'd like to ease away from the medieval era or the 1600s.
"I want to move myself more modern, slowly," Harington said. "Why I would ever desire to film in cold, muddy places on horses, I have no idea," the actor stated with a laugh.
Harington, however, was drawn to "Gunpowder" out of curiosity for the lead character Robert Catesby, who masterminded the Gunpowder Plot against Catholic leaders in the 1600s. Catesby and his companion Guy Fawkes wanted to bomb London's Houses of Parliament as well as kill King James I for persecuting Catholics.
"The idea for this was spawned from a piece of family curiosity," Harington revealed. "It was always a kind of thing growing up...'you know you were related to the leader of the Gunpowder Plot?'"
The "Game of Thrones" star's family name is Catesby on his mother side and the Gunpowder Plot remains an important part of British history. England observes the event every fifth of November.
Harington also said that playing Robert Catesby allowed him to keep his long and shaggy hairstyle, which he needed to maintain for his "Game of Thrones" character Jon Snow. Changing his hair while he's still set to finish filming the final season of the HBO series might cause a frenzy among the fans.
It will still be some time, however, before fans see Harington clean-shaven and dressed modernly on the small screen. Harington's work on "Game of Thrones" won't be finished until mid-2018.
"Gunpowder" will begin its three-episode run on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 8:00 p.m. on the BBC. "Game of Thrones" won't be back on air until late next year or in early 2019.