The Dreadful: Sophie Turner and Kit Harington’s Gothic Horror Reunion Explained
If you grew up watching Game of Thrones, the names Jon Snow and Sansa Stark likely feel like family. They were the pulse of the North — the brother and sister (OK, cousins, but close enough) who made it through the winter.
So, when it was announced that Sophie Turner and Kit Harington were joining forces once again for a gothic horror movie titled The Dreadful, the internet collectively had a minor panic attack. But it wasn’t just a good “they’re back” moment. It was more of a “wait…they’re playing lovers?” moment.
Welcome to Hollywood’s “Uncanny Valley” reunions. Here’s why this film is going viral and how the stars are dealing with that.
From Starks to Star-Crossed Lovers
The couple’s change of direction from siblings to partners, after playing brother and sister for almost a decade, is what psychologists describe as a “challenge to character imprinting.” For eight years we watched these two have a platonic, protective relationship. That change, to romantic tension, has caused what seems like “The Ick” to sweep through much of Reddit. In digital circles, r/popculturechat is having a field day.
Comments range from “My brain can’t handle this” to “Can they even do that?” As it turns out, the fans have a psychological sense of ownership over the Stark family tree. For many, Jon and Sansa kissing seems less like a plot point in a movie and more like a glitch in the Matrix.
The Fan Sentiment Breakdown
The Reddit at the moment is divided into four camps old and new loudly expressed:
- The “Ick” Contingent: Those who recoil physically and emotionally at the idea of the reunion.
- The “Jonsa” Shippers: fans who always wanted Jon and Sansa together (they are currently feasting).
- The Meta-Critics: Those who believe casting is an ingenious “outrage marketing” move.
- The Aesthetic Fans: Everyone who just wants a solid horror movie and digs the moody, desaturated atmospherics.
“Vile and Retching”: A Very Honest Press Tour
Typically actors speak not only about how great it was to all be back together but how “magical” it was. Sophie and Kit? Not so much. In a revelation that has endeared them to fans even more, they’ve been completely frank about how strange this was.
On Late Night with Seth Meyers, Turner confessed she was the one who recommended Kit, however she underestimated how “intimate” the depth of the “intimacy” would be until she read the script again. Her reaction? “Kiss, kiss, sex… Oh shoot, that’s my brother.”
The pair has described filming their first kiss scenes as “disgusting” and “vomit-inducing.” By making the awkwardness part of the story, they’ve actually defused the naysayers. You can’t really laugh at a movie for being weird when the stars are already meme-ing it.
Behind the Scenes: The “Apple Box” Dilemma
Curious not only for being “off” history-wise, but physics-wise. Sophie Turner stands a tall 5-foot-10 inches (she’s practically 6 feet in boots), and Kit Harington is 5-foot-8.
To keep with old-time traditional cinematic “gender norms,” Kit told us he had to spend a good part of the film standing on an apple box so he could come up to Sophie’s height for a kiss. This “dignity-crushing” technicality has also given rise to another debate on social media as to why Hollywood is still obsessed with male leads towering over the women they co-star with.
Is ‘The Dreadful’ Actually a Secret GoT Sequel?
The film takes place in the War of the Roses — the actual English civil war, which was the inspiration for Game of Thrones.
The film, directed by Natasha Kermani, is a reimagining of the Japanese horror classic Onibaba. It’s dark and damp and full of ”North-like” rain-soaked woods. To a lot of people, this is the closest thing they’ve ever got to an “Alternate Universe” (AU) fanfiction come to life.
| Feature | The Dreadful (2026) | Game of Thrones Legacy |
| The Vibe | Gritty Medieval Horror | High Fantasy Drama |
| Relationship | Haunted Lovers | Sibling Bond |
| The Conflict | A Cursed Knight | The White Walkers |
| The Height | Kit on a box | Jon on a horse |
Why “The Ick” is Actually Good for Business
From an industry point of view, this cast is a masterclass. In a world where streaming is king, a vanilla indie horror movie might get lost. But by casting the Stark siblings as lovers, the producers made sure that every major news outlet and Twitter account would be obsessing over it for months.
The “weirdness” is the selling point. Gothic horror is the familiar made strange (the “uncanny”) By casting familiar faces as family members, and then making them “strange” as lovers, the film creates a natural layer of dread before the first jump scare even comes.
What’s Next for Sophie and Kit?
- Sophie Turner is heading into her producer era where she’ll have more agency over her roles and is set to portray Lara Croft in the next Tomb Raider.
- Kit Harington is continuing to shuck his “good guy” image, playing dark, complex characters such as in Industry.
The Dreadful movie release date is February 20, 2026. Whether you’re after the Gothic scares or just want to see how you fare with the “Stark Dissonance,” one thing is certain: you won’t be able to look away.
Read More:- ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Dunk & Egg’s Charming Tale Revitalizes Game of Thrones
Conclusion
The Dreadful movie is effective because it intentionally unnerves, turning a recognizable sibling dynamic into a gothic romance. That “ick” factor, combined with the actors’ sincerity, has morphed shock into curiosity. Whether you love it or hate it, the movie demonstrates that subverting expectations can be the most potent form of horror — and advertising.
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