- Kit Harington has been cast to play Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO's "Harry Potter" series, replacing Nicholas Hoult, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.
- Nicholas Hoult's casting was announced earlier this month, but he exited the role when shifting production schedules led to conflicts with his other projects.
- Harington previously voiced Lockhart in the audiobook edition of Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Edition of the second novel.
- Filming for Season 2 of the series is set to begin this fall.
- Harington will take on the role played by Kenneth Branagh in the original film series.
- Season 1 of the series is set to debut on Christmas Day 2026, with an early greenlight for Season 2.
- Jon Brown has been promoted to co-showrunner for Season 2, joining Francesca Gardiner.
Kit Harington will portray Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series, stepping in for Nicholas Hoult, who exited due to scheduling conflicts. Harington, known for his role in "Game of Thrones," previously voiced Lockhart in the Audible adaptation of the series.135
Lockhart, a flamboyant and incompetent wizard, becomes the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in the second season, which is based on J.K. Rowling's "Chamber of Secrets." Harington expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating, "It was a really simple yes, because I love the character."
Filming for Season 2 is set to begin this fall, following the early greenlight from HBO after the first season's premiere on Christmas Day 2026. The series has also seen other casting changes, including the recasting of Ginny Weasley due to unforeseen circumstances. Jon Brown has been promoted to co-showrunner for the second season, joining Francesca Gardiner.467
The series aims to capture the essence of the beloved books while introducing new elements, with a cast that includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and John Lithgow as Dumbledore.
As the franchise continues to evolve, fans eagerly await the return to the wizarding world, with Harington's portrayal of Lockhart promising to add a fresh dynamic to the story.
“Harington previously voiced Lockhart in the audiobook edition, calling it a "really simple yes" because he loves the character. Season 2 is based on "Chamber of Secrets" and will begin filming this fall, with Jon Brown elevated to co-showrunner alongside Francesca Gardiner.”
The Hollywood Reporter
Variety
