Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is entering the wizarding world in a new role. The actor has been confirmed as Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Harry Potter Season 2, replacing Nicholas Hoult, who was announced for the role only a few weeks ago. HBO has confirmed the casting change, citing scheduling issues as the reason for the switch.
Interestingly, Harington is already familiar with the character. The actor previously voiced Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions, giving him an opportunity to explore the professor’s personality before taking on the live action role. Lockhart is known for his huge confidence, charming appearance and habit of taking credit for heroic acts that may not have happened the way he claims.
HBO officially announced Harington’s casting through social media. The studio wrote, “Before we begin year two at Hogwarts, there has been a slight change due to scheduling: Kit Harington will now be stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.”
Lockhart becomes an important character during Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts. He arrives at the school as a celebrity professor and quickly attracts attention with his stories of supposed bravery and magical achievements. His confident personality and exaggerated stories make him one of the more memorable characters in the second book and film.
The second season of the HBO series will be based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The story will follow Harry, Ron and Hermione as they return to Hogwarts and become involved in another mysterious situation at the school.
Production on Season 2 is expected to begin this fall. Meanwhile, Season 1, which adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is scheduled to premiere on HBO on Christmas Day.
The series features Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The cast also includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape and Nick Frost as Hagrid. With Kit Harington now joining the cast, the series has added another well known actor to its expanding wizarding world.
