Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is set to join another major HBO fantasy franchise, taking over the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in season 2 of Harry Potter, states Deadline.
Harington will replace Nicholas Hoult, who was originally cast as the famously vain Hogwarts professor but exited the series due to scheduling conflicts.
According to reports, HBO had to work around Hoult’s existing commitments to two other projects.
When the filming schedule for Lockhart’s scenes shifted within the second-season production, the actor could no longer accommodate the role and was released from his deal.
Harington, who was available at the time, was subsequently approached by HBO and is said to have been enthusiastic about stepping into the role.
Although the recasting marks Harington’s first on-screen appearance as Lockhart, the actor has already played the character in another Harry Potter project.
He voiced Gilderoy Lockhart in the star-studded full-cast audio editions of the books, released late last year.
In a featurette released by Audible, Harington recalled his childhood connection with the Harry Potter books, saying he was the same age as Harry when J.K. Rowling’s first novel was released.
“I read it, and like so many generations, I was entranced,” he said, recalling how he remained a fan throughout his teenage years.
Lockhart is one of the key characters in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in Rowling’s series.
Kenneth Branagh previously portrayed the character in the 2002 film adaptation.
A celebrated but deeply narcissistic wizard, Lockhart joins Hogwarts as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
He is known for his boastful personality, obsession with fame and extensive claims about his supposed heroic encounters with dark creatures.
Harington previously joked about seeing some of Lockhart’s traits in himself, recalling that he may have leaned into his celebrity status during the early stages of his rise to fame.
Season 2 of Harry Potter was greenlit in May and is scheduled to begin filming this autumn.
The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is expected to premiere around Christmas.
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Returning cast members include Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.
Francesca Gardiner serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes and serving as an executive producer.
Jon Brown, who worked on season 1, has also been elevated to co-showrunner for the second season.
For Harington, the casting marks his third series with HBO.
He famously played Jon Snow across all eight seasons of Game of Thrones and currently stars as a series regular in HBO’s Industry.
