Kit Harington: "I don't want to play heroic characters again, and that's something that Henry certainly is not"

If this is the first time you've heard about Industry, you're in luck because you have ahead of you the most addictive binge of your life. The HBO series is one of the great unknowns in the Max catalog and has become a cult favorite among its fans, who see it as the great successor to Succession.

And they are not lying. This elegant financial drama is inhabited by contradictory and narcissistic characters who move in a highly competitive environment. In Industry, if you're not the shark, you're the prey. There is no room for weakness and excessive ambition is not a flaw but the greatest virtue.

One of the new characters in the third season, which premieres this Monday on Max, is Sir Henry Muck, a member of the British aristocracy and CEO and founder of Lumi, a green energy tech company that viewers get to know as it's about to go public.

The one portraying him is Kit Harington, known for his role as Jon Snow in the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, and whose popularity among the public is serving as the best promotion for the best series that many are not watching.

And this is something the London actor is aware of and proud of because, as he told EL ESPAÑOL, in the interview we partially reproduce below, he is such a fan of Industry that he asked if there was a role for him.

Behind the scenes: Kit Harington with the creators of 'Industry'. Courtesy of HBO

How did you become part of the cast of the series?

I was a fanboy of Industry and contacted HBO to offer myself for a role. For me, it has been a great experience to join the team of a series that I was a fan of. In Game of Thrones, there were actors who were fans of the series, and now it was the other way around.

It was very hard for me to keep my signing secret because I really wanted to shout it to the world. I hope I have kept it as discreet as possible.

"For 10 years of my life, I played the least funny character of all time, so Industry has made me happy"

What attracted you to your character?

I've met many Henrys in my time, perhaps not as dangerous in terms of influence as him, but with similar backgrounds. Henry attracted me because like all the characters in the series, he is very complicated and generates many contradictions for the viewer.

When you meet him, you don't know if you like him or not; he is absurdly privileged, morally and ethically, but also attractive in a certain way and charming. And hopefully, if I have done my job correctly, at times you will want him to succeed while being horrified by him.

Harry Lawtey and Kit Harington in season 3 of 'Industry'.

"'Industry' is about to transcend its niche and explode into the mainstream"

What has it been like to play someone like Henry after portraying such an archetypal hero like Jon Snow?

It has been a wonderful experience. For 10 years of my life, I played the least funny character of all time in Game of Thrones, so Industry has made me happy. It has, like the best series, moments with a comedic touch, which is very attractive to me.

I don't want to play heroic characters again, and that's something that Henry certainly is not. I think he believes he is, but he's not. The ball pit scene made me love the series even more than I already did, and I was very happy filming it.

'Industry' is the best series that many are not watching, and your casting could help attract viewers, what would you tell them to encourage them to watch it?

It is one of the best series I remember. If I can help more viewers discover it, I will be very satisfied. I hope that those who come for me watch the first two seasons before joining the third. Not only because it is necessary or at least useful to better understand the characters and how they relate to each other, but because they are incredibly good. 

Industry has certainly been a cult series. It has a very strong fan base. I believe it is about to transcend its niche and explode into the mainstream, it has everything to hook many viewers.

My friends and I love it, and when I told them I was going to be in the new season, the first thing they said to me was that they hoped I wouldn't ruin the series for them because now they would have to put up with me in their favorite show.

*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence.