Kit Harington was the perfect choice to play Jon Snow inGame of Thrones, but another member of the cast auditioned for the role — and he went on to portray one of Jon’s greatest enemies instead. TheGame of Thronescasthas become so well-known, it’s difficult to envision anyone else bringing their characters to life. That’s why the realization thatanother actress played Daenerys Targaryen in the unaired pilotis so shocking. It’s just as surprising to learn that anotherstar was initially chosen to play Catelyn Stark, and she’s not the only character who could’ve looked very different.
Among the series' many iconic characters is Jon Snow, and bythe end ofGame of Thrones, there’s no denying he’s one of the most important. It’s thanks to Jon that Westeros survives the Night King and his White Walkers, and because of him, Daenerys doesn’t remain the Seven Kingdoms' tyrannical ruler for very long. Harington is fantastic in the role, but he’s not the only person who auditioned and wound up in the series. AnotherGame of Thronesstar also tried out for Jon, but he ended up being a better fit for one of the villainsin the Starks' story.
He & Kit Harington Were Among The Final Contenders
If it’s hard to imagine anyone else as Jon Snow inGame of Thrones,it’s even more difficult to picture another actor as Ramsay Bolton. YetIwan Rheon, who brings the sadistic villain to life in seasons 3-6, originally auditioned for Jon instead. He toldInterviewas much back in 2016, revealing that he and Harington were both final contenders for the role:
“I think it was between me and Kit [Harington], which is quite crazy. It could’ve been so different. I’d be dead now. [laughs] I think they made the right choice; it would’ve been a very different Jon Snow if I’d played him.”
Given how skillfully Rheon played Ramsay — a character who couldn’t have been easy to step into — it’s for the best thatGame of Thrones’casting directors realized he’d be a better fit elsewhere. But it’s funny that he initially tried out for Jon, asthe character he wound up playing is starkly different from Harington’s. They aren’t just enemies in the HBO series; they’re also the complete opposite of one another.
Iwan Rheon’s Character Wound Up Being The Complete Opposite Of Jon
They’d Later Face Off In The Battle Of The Bastards
The fact that Rheon nearly played Jon Snow is made more hilarious by the revelation that he’d later face off with Harington’s Jon in the Battle of the Bastards. Apart from the Night King, Ramsay becomes one of Jon’s greatest enemies inGame of Thrones,forcing him to lead the charge to take back Winterfell and defend his sister. It’s wild to think that Rheon could have been on the opposite side of that battlefield if things had gone differently. And he’d need to use some very different acting muscles to bring Jon to life.
While both characters are born bastards to well-off fathers, they handle the situation much differently.
After all,Ramsay is the exact opposite of Jon Snow in so many ways. While both characters are born bastards to well-off fathers, they handle the situation much differently. Ramsay schemes to gain legitimacy and power, while Jon is more accepting of his circumstances — even if there’s initially some rage simmering beneath the surface. And the characters handle their anger in contrasting ways. Jon rarely lets it get the best of him, with his compassion often winning out. Ramsay, of course, leans into his cruelty, something Rheon captures incredibly well.
Game Of Thrones Made The Right Call With Jon’s & Ramsay’s Castings
No One Else Could Have Played Either Character As Well
At the end of the day, Rheon is correct:Game of Thronesmade the right call by casting Harington as Jon Snow and himself as Ramsay Bolton. Both characters are iconic in their own right, leaving lasting impressions, albeit for very different reasons. No one else could have played them nearly as well, and having the best actors in these roles ensured that their confrontation inGame of Thronesseason 6 was among the best of the entire series. The fact that the faced off during the audition process adds another layer, making for a humorous story years later.
