When audiences first met Jon Snow in ‘Game of Thrones’, there was an immediate sense that this brooding young man carried the weight of destiny on his shoulders. Silent, ambivalent, and with a sense of honor that was so ingrained in him, Jon was one of the emotional pillars of the fantasy world.
Now it is almost impossible to think of someone who could have played the role better than Kit Harington. However, in the unpredictable early days of casting, the future King in the North was almost played by someone else.
How One Audition Changed The Course Of ‘Game Of Thrones’
In a twist that feels almost poetic, the actor who came closest to taking Jon Snow’s place would later become one of his most hated enemies. Iwan Rheon was reading the part of the moral compass of the show long before viewers were disgusted by Ramsay Bolton’s cruelty, a close call that would have changed the whole series. Before the rise of ‘Game of Thrones‘ as an international phenomenon, it was another risky fantasy adaptation.
Related: 10 Actors Who Turned Down ‘Game Of Thrones’ Roles
Casting directors were going through several auditions, and they would call actors back to play the same role many times. In the case of Iwan Rheon, it started without much context. Rheon remembered in a 2016 interview that his first audition was a general one. “When the pilot first came, it was a general audition,” he explained to Interview Magazine. “I think it was for Viserys, Daenerys’s brother. And then they were like, ‘Can you come back in and read for this other character, Jon Snow?’ At the time, I didn’t know much about it. So I auditioned for Jon Snow, but so did a lot of other people, probably.”
Rheon did not quite understand the significance of the role at the time. He confessed later that there must have been many actors under consideration. Nevertheless, as the auditions progressed, it became increasingly apparent that the choices were becoming more and more limited. Rheon later confirmed in a revelation that it was down to him and Kit Harington, which shocked many fans years later.
“I think it was between Kit and I,” Rheon said, reflecting on the process with a calm acceptance that speaks volumes about his professionalism. No resentment in his memory, just curiosity at what could have been. He even admitted that his version of Jon Snow would have been a completely different character. And that difference is what makes this casting near-miss so fascinating. Jon Snow’s journey relies heavily on quiet restraint, internal conflict, and moral rigidity.
How Losing Jon Snow Led Iwan Rheon To The Perfect Role
Although Rheon did not end up playing Jon Snow, he was given something that is arguably equally powerful: Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay was introduced as Roose Bolton’s bastard, but soon grew to be one of the most frightening villains ever seen. Ramsay was not merely evil, but unpredictable, sadistic, manipulative, and disturbingly joyful in his cruelty. It was not only what Ramsay did that was chilling, but Rheon’s performance. The audience did not simply dislike Ramsay; they were afraid of him.
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In an ironic twist, Rheon’s near-casting as Jon Snow only adds depth to Ramsay’s eventual rivalry with him. Their showdown in the ”Battle of the Bastards” carries an extra layer of intrigue when viewed through the lens of casting history. The man who had to be destroyed by Jon was the actor who nearly wielded Longclaw. Rheon himself has been happy with the turn of events. He admitted that Harington was the correct decision and that there was no point in staying behind to play the roles that were redirected in an industry that is based on rejection.
