HBO’s high-profile “Harry Potter” television series has officially secured its next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington is stepping into the flamboyant robes of Gilderoy Lockhart for Season 2. He replaces Nicholas Hoult, who exited the production due to scheduling conflicts.
The character, a famously vain wizard renowned for his grand tales of heroism that mask a complete lack of actual magical skill, plays a central role in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Lockhart was portrayed on the big screen by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 feature film adaptation.
A Match Made in Wizarding History
The casting marks a seamless transition for Harington. He voiced the very same pompous professor for Audible’s multi-cast Harry Potter audiobooks late last year. A self-proclaimed superfan of the franchise, Harington has shared that he fell in love with J.K. Rowling’s books as a child and has reread the series numerous times over the years. Reflecting on his turn as Lockhart for the audio project, the actor called the character one of the most entertaining cameo roles an actor could ask for, noting that saying yes to playing the part was an absolute no-brainer.
“It was a really simple yes, because I love the character,” Harington said of agreeing to voice Lockhart in the audiobooks. “As far as cameos in a series go, you don’t get much more entertaining and fun to do as an actor than Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a no-brainer.” Variety quotes him as saying.
Production Timelines and a Stacked Ensemble
Cameras are set to start rolling on Season 2 this fall as the series tackles the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. Meanwhile, fans won’t have to wait long for their first journey back to Hogwarts. The flagship first season will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Harington joins a massive ensemble led by fresh faces Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron. The wizarding world’s veteran staff is equally stacked. John Lithgow stars as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while Janet McTeer plays Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu plays Severus Snape, and Nick Frost plays Rubeus Hagrid.
Steering the Magic Behind the Camera
The series is also bolstering its creative leadership as it expands into its second chapter. Jon Brown, a writer on the debut season, has been promoted to co-showrunner for Season 2 alongside series developer and executive producer Francesca Gardiner, Variety reports. Director Mark Mylod continues to guide the visual tone as executive producer, working alongside executive producers J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films, with Warner Bros. Television adapting on.
