Get excited: Kit Harington weighs in on the Harry Potter casting

If you told me Kit Harington would one day play Gilderoy Lockhart, the most preening blowhard in the wizarding world, I'd have thought you were taking the mickey. But here we are – Harington, best known for playing angst-ridden Jon Snow, is officially suiting up as Lockhart in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series. If you're trying to figure out how on earth we've ended up here, let me walk you through it.

Here's how Kit Harington put it in his first interview since the casting became official: "Yeah, you're the first person I'm talking to about this. It just got released. I'm thrilled. I've said a million times, for anyone who cares, that I'm a huge Potter fan. I've got to be honest, he's one of my favorite characters. So, to be offered to play him is a real dream."

Lockhart, Take Two

The way the casting came together is a bit of a game of musical chairs. Harington is taking over Lockhart from Nicholas Hoult, who was originally lined up for the part but had to drop out – apparently, scheduling just wouldn't play ball. With Hoult out, HBO's gone straight for winter's favourite bastard. I reckon most of us are more used to seeing Harington tackle battles in the snow than polish his own trophies, so it'll be a real turn-up seeing him play such a shameless self-promoter.

And he isn't even a Lockhart rookie. Harington already voiced the character for Audible's recent full-cast Harry Potter audiobooks. If you're thinking that might give him a head start, he agrees – though he says the TV take is bound to be different. In his own words when speaking to Collider about how he plans to shape Lockhart on screen:

"I got to play him in the audiobooks. That's not the exact way I'll play him in the show because it's an audiobook, but I've had a taste of him and felt my way around him. He's just a wonderful creation."

The Wait for Lockhart

Let's clear up the timeline, as this is where things get a bit wonky. Harington isn't dropping into Hogwarts right away. Season 1 launches on Christmas Day 2026, but he won't turn up till the following run – Season 2. That tracks with the books: Lockhart first swans onto the scene in 'Chamber of Secrets'. HBO's sticking with the source material, right down to the timing.

Kit Harington will make his on-screen Harry Potter debut as Gilderoy Lockhart in Season 2, with filming already in motion before viewers have even seen Season 1.

The whole casting feels like a deliberate pivot from what Kenneth Branagh did in the films – and maybe a shot at showing a little more depth (or at the very least, a fresh coat of teeth-whitening). Season 2 is already filming, so obviously HBO isn't holding back on their long-term plans, regardless of how Season 1 goes down. For now, if you want a taste of Harington as Lockhart, your only option is Audible. On TV, he's still a ways off – but if you're after something to talk about around the Christmas dinner table in 2026, you've found it.