“Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s “Harry Potter” series, replacing Nicholas Hoult, who left the production due to scheduling conflicts.
The casting was confirmed by the official Harry Potter social media account on August 24. Hoult had been announced for the role earlier this month.
According to Deadline, Hoult’s existing commitments created scheduling conflicts with the series. He is also set to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman sequel “Man of Tomorrow."
Harington has previously voiced Lockhart in Audible’s “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions” of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," released in 2025.
Lockhart appears in the second book, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," as Hogwarts’ Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He is eventually exposed as a fraud who takes credit for the achievements of other witches and wizards.
Kenneth Branagh previously played Lockhart in the 2002 film adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."
The new series is based on JK Rowling’s 7-book series, with each season expected to adapt one novel. The first season, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone," is scheduled to premiere on December 25, 2026.
Production on season 2 is expected to begin this autumn, with no premiere date announced yet.
