HBO has officially confirmed that Kit Harington will join the cast of its highly anticipated Harry Potter television series. The actor is set to portray Gilderoy Lockhart, the vain, celebrity-focused wizard who serves as the Hogwarts professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts during the second year of the series.
Harington steps into the role following the departure of Nicholas Hoult. According to reports, HBO released the Superman actor from his contract after changes to the production schedule created conflicts with his other professional commitments. Representatives for both Harington and Hoult did not immediately provide comments regarding the casting change.
This project represents the third collaboration between Harington and the network, following his iconic eight-season run as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones and his appearance in the financial drama Industry. The actor, who is a self-proclaimed fan of the franchise, previously voiced the character of Lockhart for Audible’s Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions last year.
The production could see Harington reunite with director and executive producer Mark Mylod, who previously worked on Game of Thrones and is helming several episodes of the new series. Author JK Rowling also serves as an executive producer on the show, which is currently slated to span a 10-year production cycle. The plan involves producing multiple seasons to cover each of the seven books in the original series.
The official Harry Potter Instagram account addressed the casting update in a post, stating, “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.”
Season two is set to adapt The Chamber of Secrets, which follows Harry’s second year at the magical school. The series features Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The cast also includes Jon Lithgow as headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as the gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid.
The character of Gilderoy Lockhart, previously portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the Warner Bros. film franchise, is a central figure in the second book, known for his self-aggrandizing books about encounters with dark creatures. The series adaptation of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is scheduled to premiere this Christmas on HBO Max. The report also notes that hoult, known for his roles in X-Men, Superman and Mad Max: Fury Road, was announced for the role earlier this month. The report also notes that as producers plan multiple seasons covering each of Rowling’s seven books, which the eight blockbuster films were originally based on, the HBO series is expected to take 10 years to complete.
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