Kit Harington Replaces Hoult as HBO's Lockhart

Residents following HBO's "Harry Potter" series will see a familiar face in the new season: Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart for Season 2. The casting change takes effect immediately for the production.

Harington replaces Nicholas Hoult, who had been attached to the part. HBO announced the switch shortly after Hoult's casting was made public. According to HBO, Hoult left the production because of scheduling conflicts with other acting commitments. The network attributed his departure to those conflicts rather than to any creative decision.

The second season adapts "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." In the story, Lockhart arrives at Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, though his reputation and abilities turn out to be less impressive than advertised. Kenneth Branagh played the role in the 2002 film. Harington has previously voiced Lockhart in Audible's full-cast audio adaptations of the series, including the "Chamber of Secrets" recording released in 2025.

Harington is best known for playing Jon Snow on HBO's "Game of Thrones" and has appeared in the network's drama "Industry." The "Harry Potter" series is scheduled to debut Dec. 25. Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout plays Ron Weasley, John Lithgow plays Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu plays Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer plays Minerva McGonagall.