Kit Harington is joining HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter television series, taking over the role of the flamboyant wizard Gilderoy Lockhart from Nicholas Hoult.
HBO confirmed the recasting after Hoult, who was announced for the role earlier this month, stepped away because of scheduling issues. Harington, best known for playing Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, will portray Lockhart when the series reaches its adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The casting marks Harington’s third major role in an HBO series, following Game of Thrones and the financial drama Industry. He has also previously voiced Lockhart in an audiobook version of the Harry Potter story.
Kit Harington calls Lockhart role a ‘real dream’
Harington has revealed that he is a longtime Harry Potter fan and considers Lockhart one of his favourite characters.
Speaking to Collider, the actor said being offered the part was “a real dream” and noted that he had already had some experience with the character through the audiobook.
Lockhart is one of the most memorable characters introduced in the second Harry Potter book. Known for his vanity and exaggerated claims about battling dark creatures, he becomes Hogwarts’ Defence Against the Dark Arts professor during Harry’s second year.
Nicholas Hoult exits after scheduling conflict
Nicholas Hoult was initially selected to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the series’ second season. However, HBO said the actor had to leave the project because of scheduling issues.
The change comes as production on the ambitious television adaptation continues to take shape.
HBO said in a statement that there had been “a slight change due to schedule” before the second year at Hogwarts, with Harington now stepping into the role.
Harry Potter TV series cast
The new Harry Potter adaptation features a largely new cast, with newcomer Dominic McLaughlin playing Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Oscar-nominated actor Jon Lithgow has been cast as Albus Dumbledore, while Nick Frost will portray Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid.
The first season will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max around Christmas.
The second season will move on to The Chamber of Secrets, introducing Harington’s Lockhart to the new generation of Hogwarts characters.
Harington could reunite with Game of Thrones collaborator
Harington’s casting could also reunite him with director and producer Mark Mylod, who worked on Game of Thrones and is directing episodes of the new Harry Potter series.
Mylod is also an executive producer on the project, alongside author JK Rowling.
The original film version of Gilderoy Lockhart was played by Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry Potter series planned as a decade-long adaptation
HBO is planning an expansive adaptation of Rowling’s seven-book series. Producers reportedly expect the project to run for around 10 years, with multiple seasons planned to cover the books individually.
The television series is intended to offer a more detailed adaptation of the original novels than the eight-film franchise, which condensed parts of the books for the big screen.
With Harington now taking over as Lockhart, the upcoming second season is already generating fresh interest among fans eager to see his interpretation of the famously self-obsessed Hogwarts professor.