Kit Harington’s next project is a firecracker.
The Game Of Thrones star is in talks to star in a Guy Fawkes-inspired drama for the BBC, dubbed Gunpowder (working title). Endemol Shine Group-owned Kudos, the UK production company behind shows such as Broadchurch and Humans, is producing the 3 x 60 minute series. Harington is also expected to produce through his Thriker Films banner.
Set in 1605, the historical drama is based around British radical Fawkes and a group of provincial English Catholics who attempted to blow up the House of Lords in UK Parliament and kill King James I in order to help restore a Catholic to the crown. The attempted plot, or Gunpowder Plot as its known, was foiled on November 5 when authorities at Westminster Palace found Fawkes guarding the explosives. To this day, Brits celebrate Guy Fawkes Night every year on November 5 with a fireworks display and by burning his effigy on a bonfire.
Harington, who has made it known in various interviews that he has a desire to write and produce TV programs, has a close tie with the subject matter: earlier that year he revealed that he was a direct descendant to Robert Catesby, one of Fawkes’ fellow plotters and that he had been working on a screenplay inspired by the events. It’s unclear whether his script will be used for the show.
Kudos and the BBC declined comment.
