Ever since Jon Snow appeared to meet his maker in the season finale of Game of Thrones, there have been a number of hints that he would pull through, and the new poster released by HBO seems to confirm that he is alive and back for season six.
The last we saw of the heroic Jon Snow was in the season five finale, as he was betrayed by his fellow Night's Watchmen and left for dead, after being stabbed multiple times, on the cold hard ground of Castle Black.
Before the credits even began to roll, fans of the series began to speculate as to the true fate of the character because nobody wanted to believe that the showrunners would cut his storyline short in such a savage way, especially because things were just about to kick off beyond the wall with the White Walkers on the move.
Even book readers couldn't chime in and confirm what happens next because that's the same point at which the book leaves him.
Kit Harington at Wimbledon
The first hint that he would return came during Wimbledon – actor Kit Harington, who was contractually obliged not to cut his black curly hair and to maintain a Jon Snow-type beard, was spotted enjoying the tennis with his signature style in play. The internet went crazy with speculation.
Of course, HBO, Harington himself and showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff repeatedly said that he was definitely dead, even telling the President of the United States, Barack Obama, that Jon Snow was gone for good. Fans didn't know what to believe, it became a true matter of heart vs head.
Then, as filming kicked off in Belfast, who was spotted going through the airport – only Kit Harington. 'Why would an actor no longer involved with a show just happen to arrive in the country as filming begins and the rest of the cast assembles?' fans asked. He wouldn't, surely?
Game of Thrones fansite Watchers on the Wall posted this picture to Twitter in July
And now, finally, after months of prayers and tears and fan theories, HBO have dropped a major hint that he is definitely making a return, in the form of a poster.
APRIL. #GoTSeason6 #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/DSK2xZi9i9
— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) November 23, 2015
While it doesn't expressly say "Jon Snow is alive, everybody rejoice and dry your eyes" it sure is promising when you take all of the information on board.
Fans of the show have been taking to social media to share their reactions to the good news. Here are some of our favourites:
Jon Snow lives......hopefully! pic.twitter.com/oK25G2LN7z
— Ryan McLoughlin. (@iamRyanMc) November 23, 2015
HBO: Jon Snow is dead Kit H: Im dead GRRM: Jon Snow is dead Rest of cast: Jon Snow is dead God: Jon Snow is dead New GoT poster: lol jk fam
— Adam Munro (@amunbro) November 23, 2015
Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is alive Jon Snow is al
— Salim (@SalimAlSamar) November 23, 2015
Producers: What about Jon Snow? R R Martin: Kill him. Producers: Then? R R Martin: Bring him back. Producers: and? R R Martin: Kill him.
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) November 23, 2015
jon snow is alive? pic.twitter.com/F2HprS2CkK
— eps1.7_wh1ter0se.m4v (@traceychieng) November 23, 2015
Everyone after seeing Jon Snow on the #GoTSeason6 teaser poster.... pic.twitter.com/qtmROMOuWv
— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) November 23, 2015
Fired up. Ready to go. #JonSnow #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/uKaiVaGedT
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) November 23, 2015
