Kit Harington Replaces Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s Harry Potter Series
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24.08.2026 20:31
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2 min read
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has officially been cast as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in season two of HBO’s Harry Potter series. According to Deadline, the actor replaces Nicholas Hoult, who was forced to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts.
Hoult’s casting was announced in early August, but shifts in the production timeline for season two led to an overlap with his other filming commitments, prompting HBO to quickly find a replacement.
Lockhart from the audiobooks and Harington’s return to HBO
The character of Gilderoy Lockhart—a vain author and impostor wizard—will be a key figure in season two, which adapts the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Kenneth Branagh played the role in the 2002 feature film.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the 39-year-old Harington is already familiar with the role: in December 2025, he voiced the professor in Audible’s official audio production of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The project marks the actor’s return to big-budget fantasy on HBO, where he played Jon Snow for eight seasons on Game of Thrones.
Back-to-back filming and season one premiere
According to Variety, production on season two will begin in fall 2026—before season one airs. The studio aims to minimize breaks between filming so that young lead actors Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron) age in sync with their characters.
The adult cast of the series includes:
- John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore;
- Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall;
- Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape;
- Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid;
- Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy;
- Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick.
The eight-episode first season, adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will premiere on December 25, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max. Kit Harington’s appearance in season two is expected in 2027–2028.
