Cinema VinesKit Harington has swapped the icy halls of Westeros for the enchanted corridors of Hogwarts, stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart for the second season of HBO’s new Harry Potter series. The Game of Thrones actor will portray the flamboyant Defence Against the Dark Arts professor who first appears in Harry’s second year at the wizarding school.
Harington’s casting follows the brief announcement that Nicholas Hoult had been slated for the part a few weeks earlier. Variety reports that Hoult departed the project because the filming schedule for Lockhart changed, making it impossible to reconcile the role with his commitments to two other ongoing projects.
HBO Max confirmed the recast on its Instagram feed, noting that “there has been a slight change due to schedule: Kit Harington will be stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.” The sudden switch sparked speculation among fans, but scheduling conflicts have been cited as the sole reason for Hoult’s exit.
Harington is no stranger to Lockhart. He voiced the character in Audible’s full‑cast audio editions of the Harry Potter books, giving him a chance to explore the wizard’s over‑the‑top personality before stepping onto the screen. When asked about the audio role, the actor said, “It was a really simple yes, because I love the character. 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 himself is a memorable figure in the Harry Potter universe, known for his self‑importance and for claiming credit for heroic deeds he never performed. His arrival at Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher sets the stage for the events of the second year, based on the novel The Chamber of Secrets.
The second season will follow Harry, Ron and Hermione into their second year, with the story adapted from the second book in the series. Production is slated to begin this fall, and the first season, adapted from The Philosopher’s Stone, is scheduled to premiere on HBO on Christmas Day. The cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and John Lithgow as the headmaster.
