Kit Harington Joins ‘Harry Potter’ Season 2 As Gilderoy Lockhart In Recasting, Reprising Voice Role

HBO’s “Harry Potter” series has made a significant casting change, announcing that Kit Harington will play Gilderoy Lockhart, replacing Nicholas Hoult. Hoult’s departure was due to scheduling conflicts, an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap. Harington, already well-acquainted with HBO, will portray the defense against the dark arts professor in “Chamber of Secrets,” aligning with the upcoming second season.

Filming for Season 2 is set to begin in the fall. This move further solidifies Harington’s ongoing collaboration with HBO, as he has previously appeared in both “Game of Thrones” and “Industry,” the latter of which he will reprise his role in for the financial drama’s final season. Notably, Harington will step into the shoes of Kenneth Branagh’s character from the original films.

This isn’t the first time the HBO series has undergone recasting; in May, the network announced the replacement of Ginny Weasley, previously played by Gracie Cochrane, who left due to unforeseen circumstances. With Season 1 premiering in December 2026, the network greenlit Season 2 in May, aiming for a fall start. Additionally, Jon Brown, known for his work on “Succession” and “The Franchise,” was promoted to co-showrunner for Season 2, alongside Francesca Gardiner.

The series’ first logline describes Harry Potter’s arrival at Hogwarts, unveiling a world of magic and danger as he confronts a past adversary.