Kit Harington may have finished playing his role with the Valyrian steel sword, but he’s not done telling stories in that genre yet. The English actor, known for his iconic role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, is stepping into a new, but somewhat familiar, territory with the upcoming horror film,  The Beast Within Beast Within. The movie, as seen in its recently released trailer, promises a chilling tale intertwined with elements reminiscent of Harington’s Game of Thrones days, particularly involving wolves.

The film’s synopsis

“After a series of strange events lead her to question her family’s isolated life on a fortified compound deep in the English wilds, 10-year-old Willow (Caoilinn Springall) follows her parents on one of their secret late-night treks to the heart of the ancient forest. But upon witnessing her father (Harington) undergo a terrible transformation, she too becomes trapped by the dark ancestral secret they’ve tried so desperately to conceal.”

The trailer, previously styled as  What Remains of Us, depicts a loving yet troubled family dynamic. Willow and her parents seem to have a joyful relationship, but as the story progresses, it’s clear that their secluded life hides a sinister secret. Harington’s character, though a doting father, reveals a more vicious side, stating, “It gets harder to control the rage.”

Adding to the film’s intriguing cast is another Game of Thrones alum, James Cosmo, known for his role as Jeor Mormont, the Commander of the Watchers on the Wall. In  The Beast Within, Cosmo’s character warns Willow’s mother (Ashleigh Cummings) of the impending danger her husband poses to their daughter. The tension escalates as the father transforms into a vicious beast, and his family flees in terror.

The Beast Within seems to offer more than just a simple horror story. At the beginning of the trailer, Harington’s character proclaims himself the king of the woods and his daughter the princess, a statement that takes on a darker meaning as the trailer progresses. His command, “Kneel before your king,” hints at a deeper, more ominous power struggle within the family. The visuals imply that Willow might also be at risk of inheriting her father’s curse, with scenes of her father’s snarling transformation followed by Willow’s terrified screams.

Interestingly, the film shares its title with the 1978 novel by Edward Levy. Though not a direct adaptation, the novel features themes of beastly transformations and inherited curses, paralleling the movie’s plot. Whether or not the film is directly influenced by Levy’s book, the similarities are striking.

The Beast Within, set to release on July 26 in select theaters, promises to reveal more about this dark and captivating story. Fans of Kit Harington and horror enthusiasts alike can look forward to seeing him embrace this thrilling new role, where the lines between man and beast blur in a tale of family, secrets, and transformation.