Game Of Thrones Star Who Played Jon Snow's Key Ally Has 1 Condition For Potential Spinoff Return

Published Nov 7, 2026, 2:29 PM EST Abigail is an editor for ScreenRant, currently writing and editing movie news. You may also have seen her thoughts on animated television, musical theater, and fantasy literature in Paste Magazine, Fantasy Hive, or The Oxford Blue. She has also written SR lists and op-eds covering movies, TV, and books as well. She is an English major through and through, having graduated with a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and an MPhil from Oxford University. At least one major Game of Thrones character would be expected to return for a Jon Snow spinoff. Earlier this year, star Kit Harington confirmed that the Jon Snow spinoff isn't officially dead, despite previous reports that it had been cancelled. The sequel has been tentatively in development since as early as 2022, the year Game of Thrones' first spinoff series, House of the Dragon, premiered. This was three years after Game of Thrones' ending, the last time we saw several characters closely associated with Jon Snow. Now, in a new interview with Radio Times, actor John Bradley revealed how he could imagine himself reprising his iconic role as Jon's best friend, Samwell Tarly. "I think it all depends on the script and what the treatment of that character would be," he said. "When I think about Samwell, I just feel I can't do it anymore. Like I don't know what the voice is, and I don't know what the mannerisms are." Bradley had been a member of the cast since season 1, when Sam arrived at Castle Black in the fourth episode. Jon quickly came to like and respect Sam, as Sam didn't attempt to lie about his own shortcomings or why his father threatened him into joining the Night's Watch. As of the series' finale, Sam was in King's Landing serving as King Bran Stark's (Isaac Hempstead Wright) Grand Maester. Bradley went on to say: "So it'd be of no interest if I was to go back and play that character in the place that we left him. But if you could revisit that character and have a new experience of them and see that he's changed and see the way how he adapts to different situations, then of course because you're extending the biography of the character that you know." This sequel series has the potential to pick up years later. In the finale, Jon rejoins the Night Watch, then goes out beyond the Wall with Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju). He presumably ends up in some position of leadership among the Free Folk and the Night's Watch and would be involved if a new threat emerged. For Sam to be included, he would have to be in a different place in his life, if it meant leaving his job in King's Landing. "But it has to be really worth playing and really add something to the history of that character that was totally new and totally unexpected for me to have an interest in it," Bradley concluded. Additionally, Sam's personal life will affect who he is in this spinoff; at the end of Game of Thrones, he and Gilly (Hannah Murray) are expecting their second child. Meanwhile, the Game of Thrones fandom is awaiting the fourth and final season of House of the Dragon, which will probably arrive in the summer of 2028. Following its sensational premiere this year, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will return for season 2 in 2027, while the Aegon's Conquest movie is confirmed and slated for 2029. However, rumored sequels focusing on fan-favorite characters from the flagship remain so fascinating because of how difficult they would be to pull off, given Game of Thrones' controversial ending. Sam's return may boost the chances of the Jon Snow spinoff succeeding, though it could be trickier to incorporate him organically than a character like Tormund, who is in the same place as Jon in the finale. All episodes of Game of Thrones are available to stream on HBO Max. Release Date 2011 - 2019-00-00 Showrunner David Benioff, D.B. Weiss Directors David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff Cast Isaac Hempstead Wright Brandon Bran Stark