Kit Harington, known for his role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, is set to portray Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO's Harry Potter series, taking over from Nicholas Hoult. Hoult had previously been announced for the part of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor earlier this month but exited the production due to scheduling issues stemming from pre-existing projects and a revised shooting schedule.
HBO reportedly turned to Harington, a fellow Game of Thrones alum, after Hoult's unavailability became clear. The extent to which this casting change will affect the direction of Harry Potter Season 2 remains to be seen, though reports suggest Harington is eager to embody the flamboyant wizard. This marks a return to the character for Harington, who previously lent his voice to Gilderoy Lockhart in Audible's Full-Cast Audio Editions of the Harry Potter book series. His performance in that project may have impressed HBO executives, leading to his live-action casting.
Harington has a varied acting background, including roles in Marvel's Eternals, the series Industry, and the video game Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Gilderoy Lockhart originally appeared in live-action in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, where he was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh.
HBO officially renewed the Harry Potter series for a second season in May, with filming initially slated to commence this fall. The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is expected to debut on the streaming service this Christmas, chronicling the early adventures of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.