When HBO’s Game of Thrones ended in 2019, fans bid farewell not only to the epic fantasy world of Westeros, but also to the unique chemistry between its cast members. Now, two of the show’s most beloved stars, Sophie Turner and Kit Harington, are reuniting on-screen—but this time, in a way that’s raising more than a few eyebrows. Their new gothic horror film, The Dreadful, is set to hit theaters, on demand, and digital platforms on February 20, 2026, and it’s already making waves for more than just its chilling plot.
Directed by Natasha Kermani and distributed by Lionsgate, The Dreadful transports viewers to medieval England, where Anne (played by Turner) and her domineering mother-in-law Morwen (Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden) struggle to survive on the fringes of society. Anne’s husband is away at war, leaving her under the increasingly possessive eye of Morwen, whose methods for survival are as ruthless as they are desperate. In one particularly grim sequence from the trailer, Morwen slits the throat of a man who brings a gift for Anne—an act that sets the tone for the film’s dark, foreboding atmosphere, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The real twist, however, comes with the return of Jago (Harington), a man from Anne’s past who reemerges from the chaos of war. As Anne discovers that her husband did not survive, she finds herself growing closer to Jago. Their relationship, however, is anything but straightforward. As a mysterious curse begins to take shape through the arrival of a knight, the trio’s already fraught dynamic threatens to spiral into chaos. Morwen, ever the watchful guardian, warns Anne to “be very cautious not to give into sin,” as reported in the film’s latest trailer and highlighted by Variety.
But for fans of Game of Thrones, the most shocking element isn’t the supernatural horror—it’s the fact that Turner and Harington, who portrayed half-siblings Sansa Stark and Jon Snow for eight seasons, are now cast as lovers. The actors themselves have been candid about how strange this transition felt. In an interview with E! News in November 2025, Harington admitted, “She was one that sent that movie to me and somehow didn’t see what I saw in it. I was like, ‘These guys, these are lovers, right?’ I felt very odd about that.”
Turner echoed these sentiments in multiple interviews, including a July 2025 conversation with Vogue and a September appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers. She recounted her initial reaction upon reading the script: “So, I sent the script to Kit, and he kind of sent me a message back going like, ‘Yeah, I’d love to, but this is going to be really fucking weird, Soph.’ And I was like, ‘What is he talking about?’ Then I was reading [the script] and it’s like, ‘Kiss, kiss, sex, kiss, sex…’ And then I’m like, ‘Oh, shoot, that’s my brother.’”
The awkwardness didn’t end with the script. Turner described the first day of filming their romantic scenes as borderline nauseating. “We put it out of our minds, and then we get on set and it’s the first kissing scene, and we are both retching. Like, really, it is vile. It was the worst,” she told Seth Meyers. Harington, for his part, found humor in the physical logistics of their scenes together, telling E! News, “It was slightly embarrassing, having to get on an apple box to kiss her because she’s about a foot taller than me. But other than that, my dignity was pretty intact.”
Despite the initial discomfort, both actors found the experience ultimately rewarding. Harington reflected, “What was lovely is that we got on set together and our friendship completely ignited again. It felt like being with family. It really did.” Turner agreed, noting that while the reunion may have been “really weird for all of us,” it also strengthened their bond as friends.
The casting of Turner and Harington as romantic leads is a bold move, one that’s certain to provoke conversation among fans and critics alike. After all, it’s not every day that two actors go from playing siblings in one of television’s most iconic series to portraying star-crossed lovers in a gothic horror film. Yet, as Turner put it, “It’s such a good script that he was like, ‘We kind of have to do it.’”
Beyond the headline-grabbing reunion, The Dreadful promises a rich, atmospheric story steeped in classic gothic elements. The isolated setting on the outskirts of medieval society, the looming threat of a supernatural curse, and the complex relationships between Anne, Morwen, and Jago all contribute to the film’s sense of unease. The trailer teases a world where survival means moral boundaries are constantly tested, and where the line between love and danger is perilously thin.
Marcia Gay Harden’s portrayal of Morwen adds another layer of intensity to the narrative. Her character’s willingness to do whatever it takes to protect her family—even if it means committing murder—underscores the film’s exploration of power, control, and desperation. Morwen’s warning to Anne about the dangers of “giving into sin” hints at the moral and possibly supernatural consequences that await the characters.
Director Natasha Kermani, known for her deft hand in genre filmmaking, has crafted a movie that both honors and subverts gothic horror traditions. By casting Turner and Harington, she taps into the audience’s collective memory of their previous roles, using that familiarity to heighten the tension and, perhaps, the discomfort. The result is a film that’s as psychologically complex as it is visually striking.
With its release date set for February 20, 2026, The Dreadful is poised to be one of the year’s most talked-about films. Whether audiences are drawn by the promise of a chilling gothic mystery, the reunion of two Game of Thrones icons, or simply the curiosity of seeing Turner and Harington in such dramatically different roles, one thing is certain: this is a family reunion unlike any other.
As the premiere approaches, fans can only wonder—will the on-screen chemistry between Turner and Harington translate into a compelling romance, or will their shared history as Westerosi siblings prove too much for viewers to overcome? Either way, The Dreadful is set to make its mark, blending horror, history, and a hefty dose of the unexpected.