Kit Harington joins the cast of HBO's Harry Potter as Gilderoy Lockhart

A familiar HBO face joins the magical world. Kit Harington, famous for his role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, has been cast to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of the Harry Potter series in production for HBO. The news comes after the departure of Nicholas Hoult, previously announced for the part, due to scheduling conflicts.

Harington is no stranger to the character. The actor actually voiced Lockhart for the exclusive Audible audiobooks of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, thus gaining some familiarity with the vain Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. This experience will allow him to bring a new nuance to the performance, this time in front of practical creatures and real locations.

The actor expressed his enthusiasm for the role, calling it a true dream. "I am a huge Potter fan," he stated, "and Lockhart is one of my favorite characters. It will be incredibly fun to play him." Harington thus becomes the third actor with a past in the franchise to join the HBO series cast, after Warwick Davis (who is reprising the role of Professor Flitwick) and Arabella Stanton (previously the voice of Hermione in the audiobooks).

The first season of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will debut on HBO and HBO Max on December 25, 2026. Filming for the second season, which will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, has already begun, with a release expected in 2027.