Kit Harington is heading from Westeros to Hogwarts. The Game of Thrones star has replaced Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series, marking a major casting change before the character makes his debut on screen.
Harington will play the vain and self-promoting wizard in Season 2, which is expected to adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Hoult was announced in the role earlier this month but left the project because of scheduling conflicts.
The BBC reported that HBO confirmed the casting change. In a statement, the network said,
“Before we begin year two at Hogwarts, there has been a slight change due to schedule: Kit Harington will be stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.”
Kit Harington Already Has Experience Playing Gilderoy Lockhart
Harington is no stranger to the character. Before landing the live-action role, he voiced Gilderoy Lockhart in the full-cast audiobook adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, giving him an unusual advantage as he prepares to bring the character to television.
Speaking to Collider, Harington expressed his enthusiasm for joining the franchise.
“I’m a huge Potter fan. I’ve got to be honest, he’s one of my favourite characters,”
he said.
“So, to be offered to play him is a real dream.”
Gilderoy Lockhart is one of the most memorable characters introduced in the second Harry Potter book. A bestselling wizarding author who boasts about his supposed heroic achievements, Lockhart becomes Hogwarts’ new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and quickly develops an interest in mentoring Harry Potter. Kenneth Branagh previously portrayed the character in the 2002 film adaptation of Chamber of Secrets.
The recasting also gives Harington another connection to HBO, following his long-running role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones and his work on Industry. He may also reunite with Harry Potter executive producer and director Mark Mylod, who previously worked with him on Game of Thrones.
HBO’s Harry Potter series will launch with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone this Christmas. Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Jon Lithgow, Nick Frost and other major stars have also joined the expanding cast as HBO prepares to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series across multiple seasons.
