HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series is making a major season 2 casting change, with Kit Harington stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart following Nicholas Hoult’s departure from the production.
Hoult, 36, had previously been announced as Lockhart but exited the project because of scheduling conflicts just two weeks after his casting was revealed. Harington will now take over the character, famously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The role already has a connection to Harington. Before joining HBO’s television adaptation, the Game of Thrones alum voiced Gilderoy Lockhart in Audible’s Harry Potter audiobooks in 2025.
At the time, Harington explained why the flamboyant wizard was such an appealing character for him to play.
“It was a really simple yes, because I love the character,” Harington told Variety. “As far as cameos in a series go, you don’t get much more entertaining and fun to do as an actor than Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a no-brainer.”
Lockhart is one of the central figures introduced during Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts. The character becomes the school’s Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and is known for his celebrity status, confidence and larger-than-life personality.
HBO’s new Harry Potter project is based on J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series, which previously inspired eight blockbuster movies released between 2001 and 2011. Those films helped turn Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton and several other cast members into internationally recognized stars.
The upcoming television adaptation will introduce an entirely new cast and revisit the story across multiple seasons. According to HBO’s official description, the project is intended to be “a faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s original books while introducing the characters and magical world to a new generation of viewers.
The network has said each season will explore Harry Potter’s adventures with greater detail while the original film series remains available to audiences around the world.
Harington’s addition marks another notable connection between HBO and the actor, who became internationally known for playing Jon Snow throughout Game of Thrones. His previous experience portraying Lockhart through the audiobook production also gives him familiarity with the character before stepping into the live-action role.
With Hoult now out because of scheduling conflicts and Harington officially taking his place, Gilderoy Lockhart has become one of the most closely watched casting developments surrounding season 2 of HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter adaptation.
