Kit Harington Cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter Season 2

Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter television series, replacing Nicholas Hoult, who left the role due to scheduling conflicts. The announcement was reported on August 24, 2026.

Harington, known for his role as Jon Snow, steps into the part of the vain and boastful wizard who becomes the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts in the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s second novel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The character, previously portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film, is a famous author celebrated for his encounters with dark creatures, though his reputation is later exposed as fraudulent.

According to reports, Hoult, who was originally cast in the role, departed the production over scheduling issues related to other projects. HBO then approached Harington, who was available and eager to join the series. Harington is not new to the character, having voiced Lockhart in the star-studded Harry Potter The Full-Cast Audio Editions of The Chamber of Secrets released in late 2025.

In his first interview following the casting news, Harington expressed his enthusiasm for the...