Kit Harington will join the cast of HBO's new Harry Potter series for its second season, playing Gilderoy Lockhart. He recently responded to the casting news, stating that he supports re-adapting the books into a long-form series and accepted the offer without hesitation.
Warner Bros. and HBO are collaborating on a new Harry Potter series, which will once again adapt J.K. Rowling's seven original novels. The plan is for each season to correspond to one book, though it remains uncertain whether the show will ultimately run for all seven seasons. The first season, adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max this Christmas, and the producers have already begun announcing the cast for Season 2.
Gilderoy Lockhart does not officially appear until the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, so he will not be featured in Season 1. Nicholas Hoult was initially in talks for the role but ultimately dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Kit Harington being cast as his replacement. In the film adaptation, Lockhart was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, a character known for his flamboyant vanity.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz's podcast, Harington said that when he learned about the new series, he thought it was a great concept, as television allows for a deeper exploration of the source material than films. He stated that he "fully supports" the project and, upon receiving the invitation to join, gave a simple response: "Yes, count me in."
Harrington also revealed that he has been a devoted Harry Potter reader since childhood and still listens to the audiobooks to fall asleep. Meanwhile, the new series has faced some backlash due to author J.K. Rowling's controversial stance, with social media users criticizing actors who signed on to the project. There were rumors that the controversy might lead some individuals to leave the production, but these claims remain unconfirmed.
Other confirmed cast members for Season 2 include Dobby, Ginny Weasley, and Tom Riddle, played by Lenny Rush, Bonnie Hill, and Billy Barratt, respectively. Bonnie Hill will take over the role of Ginny from Gracie Coker, who portrayed her in Season 1.