SALT LAKE CITY — Kit Harington will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the comic book character Black Knight, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige announced over the weekend.
Feige revealed Harington, who is fresh off his role as Jon Snow in “Game of Thrones,” will join the film “The Eternals” as Dane Whitman, who becomes the superhero Black Knight in the Marvel comics.
Feige introduced the entire cast of characters for “The Eternals” during the D23 Expo, which is Disney’s annual convention on news and announcements for the company.
Harington’s time on “Thrones” led to Emmy nominations and widespread fandom, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His former “Game of Thrones” co-star, Richard Madden, who played his brother Rob Stark on the show, will also be in “The Eternals.”
In the comics, Dane Whitman became the Black Knight after his uncle, who had used the Black Knight moniker to commit crimes, was killed in a battle with Iron Man. Whitman’s uncle to take on the powers of Black Knight and restore honor to the legacy, according to Marvel.
Black Knight has reached out to several Marvel superhero characters throughout the years, including ones that have appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch and the Avengers.
Once he left the Avengers, Black Knight teamed up with Thor, who hoped to find a cure for Black Knight, who had recently been cursed to become the Ebony Blade. Thor used Black Knight as a weapon — he was literally turning into a blade because of the curse — to defeat the villain Seth, who had invaded Asgard. Thor brought Black Knight back to Earth and he was restored to life.
Most recently, Black Knight joined the Military Intelligence, Section 13 (MI-13) team, which serves to protect Britain from aliens, mystical characters and super-villains.