From Jon Snow to Hogwarts: Kit Harington Cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in ‘Harry Potter’ Series

The Wizarding World is getting a major infusion of Westerosi star power. Kit Harington, the actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Jon Snow in HBO’s Game of Thrones, is officially trading his furs and sword for a wand and robes, having joined the cast of the highly anticipated Harry Potter television series.

Harington has been tapped to play the flamboyant and narcissistic Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the show’s second season. He steps into the role following the departure of Nicholas Hoult, who was forced to withdraw from the production due to scheduling conflicts.

A Return to the Role

For Harington, the transition into the shoes of the fraudulent celebrity wizard is a familiar one. The actor recently voiced Gilderoy Lockhart for Audible’s immersive Harry Potter audiobook series, which launched late last year.

A self-proclaimed fan of J.K. Rowling’s source material, Harington expressed his enthusiasm for the role in an interview with Variety last December. “It was a really simple yes, because I love the character,” Harington said. “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.”

The Character: A Wizard of Many Talents (And Lies)

Gilderoy Lockhart is a central figure in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, serving as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. While he presents himself to the world as a heroic, best-selling author and adventurer, it quickly becomes apparent to his students—and the audience—that his qualifications are as thin as his hair-care advice. The role was previously made iconic on the big screen by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation.

An All-Star Production

As anticipation builds for the series, fans are eager to see how the new iteration will handle the beloved narrative. The upcoming season, which adapts the second book in the franchise, is scheduled to begin filming this fall.

The production has assembled a prestigious cast to bring the halls of Hogwarts to life. The series features Dominic McLaughlin in the title role of Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. They are joined by a veteran lineup of actors, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as the gentle half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid.

With filming imminent, the casting of Harington as the delightfully arrogant Gilderoy Lockhart has set a high bar for the season, promising a performance that balances the character’s comedic vanity with the underlying tension of the wizarding world’s mysteries.