The long-awaited reunion of Game of Thrones alumni Sophie Turner and Kit Harington is finally moving from the frozen North of Westeros to the mud-caked, curse-ridden forests of medieval England. Lionsgate has released an evocative new poster for their upcoming Gothic horror feature, The Dreadful, signaling a shift toward a dark, visceral cinematic experience. The artwork focuses heavily on a singular, chilling image: the weathered helmet of a mysterious knight, a silent sentinel that suggests the violence and mysticism lying at the heart of the story.
Set to arrive in select theaters and on Digital platforms on February 20, 2026, The Dreadful promises to be more than a simple period piece. It is a psychological descent into isolation, trauma, and the supernatural, anchored by a cast of heavy hitters and a director known for pushing the boundaries of the genre.
The Story: A Past That Refuses to Stay Buried
Set against the unforgiving backdrop of medieval England, the narrative follows Anne (Sophie Turner), a woman living a precarious existence on the fringes of society. Her world is small, claustrophobic, and defined by the harsh realities of survival. Anne resides with her domineering mother-in-law, Morwen (played by Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden), whose presence adds a layer of domestic tension to the external threats of the era.
Their fragile status quo is shattered when a figure from Anne’s past—portrayed by Kit Harington—returns from the frontlines of war. While his homecoming might initially seem like a reprieve, his arrival acts as a catalyst for a burgeoning curse. This supernatural rot begins to manifest through the presence of a “mysterious knight,” a figure that seems to haunt the woods and the peripheries of their perception. As the curse takes shape, it threatens to dismantle their lives, revealing that the horrors of the past are often more dangerous than the wars of the present.
A Powerhouse Creative Team
The film is written and directed by Natasha Kermani, a filmmaker who has rapidly become a favorite among horror aficionados. Kermani’s previous work, including the celebrated “Abraham’s Boys” and her contribution to the V/H/S/85 anthology, demonstrates a keen ability to blend historical atmosphere with genuine, bone-chilling dread.
Kermani isn’t just behind the camera; she also serves as a producer alongside Sophie Turner herself. The production team is bolstered by a veteran lineup including Luke Daniels, Greg Lauritano, Lucas Jarach, and Adam G. Simon. This collaborative effort ensures that the film maintains a “UK production” feel—gritty, authentic, and steeped in the specific Gothic traditions of the region.
The Cast of The Dreadful:
| Actor | Known For | Role Type |
| Sophie Turner | Game of Thrones, X-Men | Anne (Protagonist) |
| Kit Harington | Game of Thrones, Eternals | The Returnee |
| Marcia Gay Harden | The Mist, Pollock | Morwen (Mother-in-law) |
| Laurence O’Fuarain | The Sandman, Blood Origin | Supporting |
| Jonathan Howard | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Supporting |
The Gothic Aesthetic and the “Mysterious Knight”
The newly released poster highlights the film’s central icon: the knight’s helmet. In medieval horror, the knight often represents more than just a soldier; they are symbols of an oppressive social order or, in this case, a vessel for something far more ancient and malevolent. The helmet in the poster is tarnished and evocative, suggesting a figure that has emerged from the earth or the depths of a nightmare rather than a castle.
This aesthetic choice aligns with the film’s R-rating, which was earned for “violence/bloody images and a sexual reference.” Audiences should expect a film that does not shy away from the brutality of its setting. The “Dreadful” of the title likely refers to both the atmospheric gloom of the English countryside and the visceral terror that the knight brings to Anne’s doorstep.
Why the Turner-Harington Reunion Matters
For fans of Game of Thrones, seeing Sansa and Jon—or rather, Turner and Harington—together again is a major draw. However, The Dreadful seems determined to subvert expectations. Instead of the sweeping vistas and epic battles of their previous collaboration, this film offers a tight, intimate, and frightening character study. Their chemistry, forged over a decade of working together, is likely to be used here to explore much darker, more complicated dynamics of guilt and shared history.
With Marcia Gay Harden adding her immense gravitas to the mix, the film is positioned as a prestige horror entry—one that values performance and atmosphere as much as it does its “jump scares” or “bloody images.”
Mark Your Calendars
The Dreadful is set to be one of the first major genre highlights of 2026. Whether you are a fan of medieval history, Gothic literature, or simply want to see two of television’s biggest stars reinvent themselves in a horrifying new light, this is a release to watch.
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