Jon Snow comes to Harry Potter: Kit Harington replaces Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s Season 2

Kit Harington, best known for playing Jon Snow in HBO's Game of Thrones, will portray Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO's Harry Potter series. He is replacing Nicholas Hoult, who left the production because of scheduling conflicts with two other projects.

Harington's casting reunites him with HBO for another major fantasy series. While Game of Thrones made him a global star, his role as Lockhart will be markedly different. Lockhart is a flamboyant Hogwarts professor known for his vanity, exaggerated claims and public image as a celebrated wizard.

Why Nicholas Hoult left Harry Potter

Hoult was originally set to play Gilderoy Lockhart but had to exit because of scheduling conflicts involving two existing projects, as per reports. HBO could not accommodate the conflicting commitments, leading the production to recast the role to keep filming on schedule.


Harington already has a connection to the Harry Potter universe. He recently voiced Lockhart for Audible's Harry Potter audiobooks, which were released late last year. That experience gives him prior familiarity with the character and his mannerisms.

Who is Gilderoy Lockhart?

Gilderoy Lockhart is introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in J.K. Rowling's series. He becomes Hogwarts' new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and quickly attracts attention with his celebrity status and claims of heroic achievements.

However, Lockhart's reputation does not match his actual abilities. His stories of heroic deeds and his image as a celebrated wizard become increasingly questionable as the story unfolds. His interactions with Harry and the other characters play an important role in the second installment.

When will Kit Harington appear as Lockhart?

Harington's Lockhart is expected to feature in the second season of HBO's Harry Potter, which will move into the events of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets after the first season adapts the opening book.

The recasting adds another high-profile name to the HBO adaptation and gives Harington the chance to take on a character far removed from Jon Snow. Lockhart's vanity, charisma and exaggerated public persona will offer Harington a very different role from his previous HBO fantasy character.