Kit Harington reveals Marvel has no plans for Black Knight after Eternals, while joining HBO's Harry Potter as Gilderoy Lockhart. Get the full update!
Marvel Studios alum Kit Harington has offered a blunt reality check regarding the cinematic future of Dane Whitman, revealing that the studio currently has no active plans to bring his character back as the Black Knight. The Game of Thrones veteran made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Chloé Zhao's 2021 ensemble film Eternals, where he played a British museum curator and romantic partner to Gemma Chan's Sersi. While the character's core role was grounded in the present day, his true comic book destiny was teased in a high-profile post-credits cliffhanger featuring the cursed Ebony Blade.
What Is the Status of Black Knight in the MCU?
While promoting his upcoming MGM+ period drama A Tale of Two Cities, Harington addressed his long-standing Marvel status during an interview with MovieWeb. When asked whether Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has called him to reprise the hero, Harington admitted that the project appears to be stalled indefinitely:
- No Current Roadmap: Harington explicitly stated, "I don't think there's any plan to. I hate to break it to you," confirming he remains out of the loop on upcoming slates.
- Eternals Franchise Pause: Marvel Studios has not announced a sequel to Eternals, leaving characters like Dane Whitman, Harry Styles' Eros, and the remaining cosmic heroes in limbo.
- Blade Production Reshuffles: The infamous Eternals post-credits scene featured an off-screen voiceover by Mahershala Ali as Blade, asking Dane if he was ready to handle the weapon. However, ongoing behind-the-scenes restructuring surrounding Marvel's supernatural character slate has unraveled those initial crossover plans.
What Did Kit Harington Say About the Ebony Blade's Corruption Powers?
Despite the lack of an active contract, Harington remains passionate about the dramatic potential of the Black Knight mythology. In Marvel Comics, the Ebony Blade is a ancient artifact forged by Merlin that grants its wielder immense power, but at a terrifying cost: the weapon feeds on blood, slowly driving its user toward uncontrollable violent addiction.
Harington praised this darker moral arc, highlighting why he still wants to play the character:
- Parable of Addiction: Harington described the Ebony Blade as a brilliant metaphor for addiction, noting that the more blood Dane spills, the more the weapon corrupts his soul.
- Moral Deterioration: The actor noted that playing a hero who starts out with noble intentions before suffering a tragic descent into darkness offers far richer dramatic material than standard hero tropes.
What Major Roles Is Kit Harington Playing Next?
Even if the MCU has placed the Black Knight on ice, Harington's schedule remains packed with high-profile television projects across major networks:
- A Tale of Two Cities (MGM+): Harington stars as Sydney Carton in a four-part adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, premiering on September 6, 2026, alongside François Civil and Mirren Mack.
- Harry Potter Season 2 (HBO): Returning to HBO, Harington has officially joined the cast of the Harry Potter television series as the boastful Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart. He replaces Nicholas Hoult, who exited the series due to scheduling conflicts. Harington previously voiced Lockhart in Audible's full-cast audiobooks.
While the door remains open for Dane Whitman to eventually claim the Ebony Blade, fans will have to wait and see if Marvel Studios revives its supernatural antihero in future phases.