Kit Harington has joined HBO’s Harry Potter Season 2 as Gilderoy Lockhart, replacing actor Nicholas Hoult.
Famous British actor Kit Harington has officially joined the cast of HBO’s new Harry Potter television series to play the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.
The major casting update was confirmed by major media outlets on Monday, August 24, 2026, ahead of the show’s second season production.
Harington, who is globally famous for playing Jon Snow in the hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones, steps into the role after actor Nicholas Hoult had to step down due to busy work schedules.
The second season of the show is set to begin filming in the fall of 2026, focusing on the events of the famous book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In this chapter of the story, Gilderoy Lockhart is a world-famous wizard who writes popular books about his fake adventures and gets hired to teach magical defense at Hogwarts School.
Nicholas Hoult was originally chosen to play the handsome professor, but he had to leave the project because he was already filming other movies, including his role as Lex Luthor in the new Superman film.
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Harington was chosen for the television role because he already knows the character very well. Last year, the actor voiced the same character for the official Harry Potter audiobooks.
Harington shared his excitement about playing the fun and self obsessed wizard again, saying that he has always been a massive fan of the original books written by J.K. Rowling.
Reflecting on his love for the story and his return to the world of magic, Kit Harington said, “I’ve got to be honest, he’s one of my favorite characters. So, to be offered to play him is a real dream. I think he’s going to be so fun.”
The actor further explained his experience with the famous role, stating, “I got to play him in the audiobooks. That’s not the exact way I’ll play him in the show because it’s an audiobook, but I’ve had a taste of him and felt my way around him. He’s just a wonderful creation.”
According to additional news coverage, the first season of the TV series will arrive on screen during Christmas 2026. Kit Harington joins a big cast, including young star Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and veteran actor John Lithgow as headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
In simple terms, actor Kit Harington from Game of Thrones is joining the new Harry Potter TV show to play a silly, famous teacher named Gilderoy Lockhart. He took over the role after another actor got too busy to do it.
