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Kit Harington is headed from Westeros to Hogwarts as the new Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series.

Harington will step into the role after Nicholas Hoult, who was initially announced as the famously self-obsessed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, departed the project because of scheduling conflicts.

Deadline reported that Hoult's existing film commitments clashed with changes to the production timetable for the second season. With the filming schedule no longer aligning with his availability, HBO had to recast the part.

Harington, however, was reportedly eager to join the wizarding world when the opportunity came.

The actor already has a connection to the character. Before landing the live-action role, Harington lent his voice to Lockhart for Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, released in late 2025.

For Harington, the new project also marks another return to HBO. He became a household name through his portrayal of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones and later joined the cast of the network's acclaimed drama, Industry.

Hoult, meanwhile, has several major projects under his belt, including his recent turn as Lex Luthor in Superman. He has also starred in The Great, The Menu, and Nosferatu.

Harington will join a largely new cast assembled for HBO's Harry Potter adaptation. Dominic McLaughlin is set to play Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Announced in 2023, the series will bring J.K. Rowling's seven-book saga to television after the story was previously adapted into eight blockbuster films.

With Harington now taking on Lockhart, fans can expect a different take on the charming but notoriously vain Hogwarts professor when the character makes his debut in the series.

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