Summary:
- Kit Harington sheds his heroic image from Game of Thrones to play a drug-dealing villain named Ricky in the film “Blood for Dust.”
- Harington actively pursued the role, seeking characters with complexities and questionable morals.
- He finds greater intrigue in portraying flawed individuals, expressing admiration for actors who successfully play classic heroes but personally gravitating towards more nuanced roles.
After eight seasons portraying the noble Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, Kit Harington is embracing his dark side. His new film, Blood for Dust, throws him into the world of a cold, snowy Montana where he tackles the role of Ricky – a drug-dealing, arms-slinging villain.
Gone are the days of Jon Snow’s unwavering heroism. Ricky, sporting a handlebar mustache and a gold chain, stands as the complete antithesis of Harington’s previous character.
“That is seemingly what I’ve been hunting a bit,” Harington concedes. “If I look at the roles I’ve taken since playing an out-and-out hero in Game of Thrones, I have to admit there seems to be some sort of pushback about playing a hero. I’m not so interested in heroic roles, and if I am, they have to be pretty anti-hero-ish.
Harington actively sought this contrasting role. He highlights the opportunity to work alongside Scoot McNairy and the clear direction provided by director Rod Blackhurst as reasons for his excitement. He also mentions the fun of sporting a prominent mustache and mastering an American accent.
This villainous turn isn’t a one-off for Harington. He admits to a conscious effort to explore characters beyond the hero archetype since Game of Thrones ended. He finds depth and intrigue in portraying flawed individuals with questionable morals.
Harington acknowledges the difficulty of portraying a hero in a compelling way. He expresses greater interest in characters with complexities and wrongdoings, finding them more fascinating to portray as an actor.
“My heart goes out to people playing heroes,” he continues. “They’re f—ing hard to play and to make interesting. It is more fascinating as an actor, I think, to empathize with someone deeply faulted and wrong, to try and find your way into why they are doing these things. [Playing] a guy who is doing all the right things and is driven by being good, it’s harder to do that. And I think people who do it successfully, who play classically heroic roles, are very talented actors. But at the moment, I just find it more interesting looking for the f—ed-up people.”
Blood for Dust hits theaters and digital platforms on April 19th, offering audiences a chance to see Kit Harington in a whole new light.
