Kit Harington has joined HBO’s Harry Potter series as Gilderoy Lockhart for Season 2, replacing Nicholas Hoult.
Hoult left the production due to scheduling conflicts.
Harington will play the famous but arrogant wizard in the second season. The season is based on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Kit Harington to Play Gilderoy Lockhart
Lockhart becomes Hogwarts’ new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. However, it soon becomes clear that he is not qualified for the job.
Harington is already familiar with the character. He voiced Lockhart in Audible’s Harry Potter audiobooks late last year.
Speaking to Variety in December, Harington explained why he agreed to voice the character.
“It was a really simple yes, because I love the character,” Harington said of agreeing to voice Lockhart in the audiobooks.
“As far as cameos in a series go, you don’t get much more entertaining to do as an actor than Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a no-brainer.”
The Game of Thrones star also described himself as a “Harry Potter” nerd. He said he fell in love with Rowling’s books as a child and has reread them many times.
Lockhart was previously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
‘Harry Potter’ Season 2 Cast
Season 2 of the HBO series is set to begin filming this fall. The first season will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter in the new series. Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger, while Alastair Stout plays Ron Weasley.
The cast also includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore. Janet McTeer plays Professor McGonagall, while Paapa Essiedu portrays Snape.
Nick Frost has also joined the cast as Rubeus Hagrid.
New Showrunner for Season 2
Jon Brown, 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 also serves as an executive producer with director Mark Mylod. Rowling is an executive producer alongside Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts and David Heyman.
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