‘Game of Thrones’ The Night King Almost Had a Different Killer, Reveals David Benioff

The death of the Night King on Game of Thrones remains one of the most talked-about moments in television history.

The final showdown of the Long Night was highly anticipated, and the showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, spent a lot of time deciding which character should end the Night King’s reign. Details about the decision were revealed in the book Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by Entertainment Weekly editor James Hibberd.

According to Benioff, the team even considered having Sandor Clegane, also known as The Hound and played by Rory McCann, deliver the fatal blow. “It had to be somebody with believable access to Valyrian steel. We didn’t want it to be Jon because he’s always saving the day. We talked about the Hound at one point, but we wanted his big thing to be Clegane Bowl. Ultimately it wouldn’t have felt right if it was Jon or Brienne or the Hound,” Benioff said.

The showrunners also thought having Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, kill the Night King would have been too predictable. In the end, Arya Stark, portrayed by Maisie Williams, was chosen. Her role in defeating the Night King paid off her years of training in Braavos and added a surprise element to the battle. The Hound, meanwhile, was saved for his long-awaited confrontation with his brother, The Mountain, known as the Clegane Bowl.

Despite the intention behind the choice, many fans were unhappy with Arya delivering the final strike. Some felt the story had been building toward Jon Snow as the hero, given his close ties to the prophecy and past encounters with White Walkers. Others argued Arya’s sudden involvement felt out of place, making the Night King’s defeat seem rushed and less satisfying. Many viewers had expected a payoff that reflected years of character development and storytelling, and Arya’s unexpected role didn’t meet those expectations for some fans.

Still, the showrunners defended their decision, saying Arya’s attack made sense for the story and allowed the other characters to have their own climactic moments.

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