Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series after Nicholas Hoult dropped out.
HBO announced that Hoult, 36, exited the role due to alleged scheduling conflicts, with Harington, 38, stepping in as his replacement for the television adaptation expected to air in December. The Game of Thrones star had previously voiced the pompous celebrity author turned Hogwarts professor for Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, which was released late last year.
Speaking with Audible at the time of that release, Harington shared his long history with the Wizarding World. “I read it, and like so many generations, I was entranced, and then I was a huge fan all through my teenage years. I think there’s a little bit of Gilderoy in all of us,” he said.
Footage of Harington’s audiobook performance has circulated on X, showing both his vocal delivery and his physical acting during recording sessions. The clips have fueled fan enthusiasm for his transition to the live-action role.
Social media reaction has been largely positive, though some questioned why Harington was not initially cast. One X user posted: “Why didn’t they cast Kit Harington initially since he did the voice first the character in the audio books. I don’t get it, why was he the runner up?”
Another user expressed pleasant surprise: “Wait, I didn’t realize he did the audiobook recently! Oh man, he’ll be good.”
The character of Gilderoy Lockhart was previously portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In both the books and films, Lockhart initially presents himself as a celebrated author and adventurer before revealing his cowardly nature and habit of stealing others’ stories to maintain his fame.
Additional fan praise on X highlighted Harington’s comedic timing in the audiobook format. “Everytime his character showed up in the audiobook I would get a huge smile. He was so hilarious as Lockheart. ‘Harry, Harry, Harry..'” one listener wrote.
Another supporter added: “Hey, he’s gonna kill it in the role! Even his little mannerism while recording is spot on! And I listened to the audiobook and it was INCREDIBLE!”
The casting change comes amid ongoing public debate surrounding series author J.K. Rowling’s views on gender identity. Some fans had expressed disappointment when Hoult was initially cast, citing Rowling’s statements that critics have called transphobic.
Bel Powley, 34, who will play Harry’s aunt Petunia Dursley, recently addressed her decision to join the project despite disagreeing with Rowling. Speaking to The Telegraph, she said: “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”
The HBO series has assembled an extensive cast beyond Harington. John Lithgow will portray Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu takes on Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer will play Minerva McGonagall. Nick Frost has been cast as Rubeus Hagrid, while Katherine Parkinson will appear as Molly Weasley. The younger generation of Hogwarts students includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
In the viral moment that preceded this casting news, Harington’s audiobook performance had already generated significant online attention, with fans noting his expressive delivery and mannerisms during recording. The footage shared to X showed him fully embodying Lockhart’s theatrical self-importance, laying groundwork for fan acceptance of his live-action takeover.
HBO’s Harry Potter series is scheduled to begin streaming in December.