Kit Harington is heading back to the wizarding world, with the Game of Thrones star set to play Gilderoy Lockhart in Season 2 of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ series.
Harington replaces Nicholas Hoult, who was previously announced in the role but has exited the production due to scheduling conflicts.
The casting marks something of a magical reunion for Harington and Lockhart. The actor recently voiced the famously arrogant wizard in Audible’s Harry Potter audiobooks, released late last year, meaning he already has some experience bringing the character to life.
Lockhart is a central figure in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World series and the story that will form the basis for Season 2 of HBO’s adaptation.
A celebrated wizard who has built his reputation around supposedly heroic feats, Lockhart arrives at Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. However, it quickly becomes apparent that his reputation is considerably greater than his actual magical abilities.
The character was previously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
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Harington is best known for playing Jon Snow in HBO’s Game of Thrones, a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Season 2 of ‘Harry Potter’ is set to begin shooting this autumn, while the first season is scheduled to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Dominic McLaughlin will lead the series as Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The ensemble also includes John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Behind the camera, Jon Brown, who worked as a writer on the first season, has been promoted to co-showrunner for Season 2. He will work alongside current showrunner and series developer Francesca Gardiner.
Gardiner serves as executive producer alongside director Mark Mylod, who is also directing episodes of the series.
