Kit Harington cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO Harry Potter series

Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of the upcoming HBO ‘Harry Potter’ television series. Harington, known for his role in ‘Game of Thrones’, replaces Nicholas Hoult, who withdrew from the production due to professional scheduling conflicts.

Lockhart is a central character in the second book, ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, serving as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harington previously voiced the character in audiobook versions released on Amazon’s Audible platform. He expressed excitement about the role, stating, “To be offered to play him is a real dream,” and noting his long-standing fandom of the book series.

While the first season of the adaptation is expected to premiere in December, the casting of Harington for the second season has drawn mixed reactions from fans regarding his suitability for the character's established aesthetic.