Kit Harington Takes Over as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s Harry Potter

HBO announced the change on August 24, just weeks after Hoult was revealed as Lockhart. Harington, best known as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, will now take on the flamboyant Defence Against the Dark Arts professor when the series reaches Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Lockhart arrives at Hogwarts as a celebrated wizard whose books recount his supposed heroic exploits. His confidence quickly becomes part of the joke, as his reputation proves much stronger than his actual ability. Kenneth Branagh played the character in the 2002 film adaptation.

Harington already knows Lockhart

The role is not entirely new territory for Harington. He previously voiced Lockhart in the full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks, including The Chamber of Secrets. Audible confirmed Harington among the audiobook cast, giving him an earlier connection to the character.

That experience now gives Harington a second opportunity to interpret Lockhart, this time in a live-action production. His casting also reunites him with HBO, the network behind Game of Thrones.

Season 2 heads to Hogwarts

The first season of HBO’s Harry Potter is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day 2026 and will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Season 2 will move to The Chamber of Secrets, introducing Lockhart alongside the story’s mystery surrounding the hidden chamber and the creature attacking students.

Production on the second season is expected to begin this fall. The wider cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, with John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Janet McTeer as McGonagall.

For now, the Lockhart recasting gives the second season one of its most notable changes before filming begins, with Harington stepping into a role that he has already explored through voice acting.