When The Dreadful debuted, one of the most immediate talking points was the unexpected romance between Kit Harington and Sophie Turner. Given their shared history on Game of Thrones, where their characters were raised as siblings, the pairing felt unusual to longtime fans. Director Natasha Kermani acknowledged the reaction, explaining how the relationship was conceived within the film’s narrative.
Quick Read
- Kermani says the characters were always childhood friends.
- Their romance reflects themes of growing up and reevaluating relationships.
- The film introduces a love triangle, adding a “forbidden fruit” element.
Childhood friends turned romance
Kermani explained to Variety that the dynamic between Turner and Harington’s characters was rooted in shared history. “These characters were always childhood friends,” she said. “One of the themes of the film is growing up, so she has these memories of this character as a child and their childhood together. Now here they are as adults, reevaluating their relationship. They’re not related in our film, but there is a bit of a love triangle, so there is a forbidden fruit feeling in our film. I think it’s interesting that it worked out that way.”
By framing the romance as a natural evolution of childhood bonds, Kermani emphasized that the story is less about shock value and more about exploring how relationships change with age. The forbidden undertones, however, add tension that resonates with audiences familiar with both actors’ past roles.
Fan reactions shaped by Game of Thrones
Kermani also acknowledged that the casting inevitably carried subtext. Fans who watched Turner and Harington grow up in Westeros bring that baggage into the theater, which makes their romance feel transgressive. Rather than shy away from it, Kermani leaned into the tension, noting that the “forbidden fruit” element adds intrigue to the film’s atmosphere.
By situating the romance in a new context, The Dreadful highlights how casting familiar faces can create layered reactions: nostalgia for their past roles, curiosity about their new dynamic, and fascination with how audiences reconcile the two. It’s precisely that tension — between memory and reinvention — that makes the film’s forbidden romance compelling.
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