Now that Game of Thrones is over, Kit Harington is free to jump from one major franchise to another. It was confirmed at D23 in August that the Jon Snow actor had boarded The Eternals to play Dane Whitman, better known to Marvel Comics fans as Black Knight. While Harington is excited at being able to leave his mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he’s also incredibly nervous about the prospect because he know how daunting it can be to satisfy fan expectations. In Harington’s words:
A lot of people who go into something like the MCU, they haven't had experience of, maybe, a franchise that big. I've lived with Thrones for ten years, I've known a big franchise and something that's created a world and it has a huge fan base. So for both reasons, I'm excited and terrified. I know the responsibility of actors who came into Thrones knowing that they're playing a beloved character and that they had a responsibility to fans and to people to do something with that character. And for me, looking at this new universe, I'm prepared because I've been part of a universe... but I also have been part of a universe, so I am terrified.
Kit Harington discussed being part of The Eternals during his appearance at ACE Comic-Con in Chicago this past weekend (via Comicbook.com), adding that the convention was a great way for him to see just how passionate people are about all things Marvel. As for what we can expect from Kit Harington’s version of Dane Whitman in The Eternals, all the actor was willing to say is that he’s playing a superhero who wields a sword.
That’s not much, but at least it indicates that Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman will follow in his comic book counterpart’s footsteps and become Black Knight. That said, because The Eternals will span across thousands of years, it’s hard to say if this version of Dane will be operating in the present day or instead appear in a portion of the story set in the far past.
Regardless, Kit Harington’s time on Game of Thrones means he knows that obtaining an important role in a popular franchise can be a double-edged sword. Sure it comes with fame and more professional opportunities, but then you also have to contend with fans who the source material inside and out, meaning they’re quite particular about how these characters are adapted. In other words, it’s harder to impress them than the casual viewer.
But Kit Harington seems to be up to the challenge, so now all we have to do it wait for our first look at his version of Dane Whitman. That’ll be a long ways off though, as The Eternals is still deep into principal photography and won’t hit theaters until late 2020. My guess is that we won’t receive any concrete details about Harington’s character until early next year at the… earliest.
Aside from taking place across many millennia, no specific plot details about The Eternals have been revealed yet, but the main cast is an open book. Accompanying Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman are Angelina Jolie as Thena, fellow Game of Thrones alum Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as Druig and Gemma Chan as Sersi.
The Eternals opens in theaters on November 6, 2020. If you’re curious about what other Marvel movies are on the way, look through our comprehensive guide.
