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The HBO Harry Potter series is yet to premiere on HBO, but filming for Season 2 is already underway. Season 2 of the show will introduce a few new characters, including the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart.
Lockhart will be played by Game of Thrones star Kit Harington in the upcoming series. While Nicholas Hoult was initially cast as Lockhart, he had to leave the project due to scheduling issues. Harington, who took over the role after Hoult's departure, has revealed that he couldn't say no to the role due to a personal reason.
Harry Potter audiobooks helped Kit Harington at a time he needed them the most
Like many people, Kit Harington is also a fan of the Harry Potter novels. However, that alone isn't the reason he said yes to playing Gilderoy Lockhart. Speaking to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Harington revealed that listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks helped him during an extremely difficult period in life.
Thus, the story has special meaning to him. Harington said:
“I listen to the Stephen Fry audiobooks. And I do that because my brain is incredibly busy, especially at night, and I’ve always found going to bed very difficult. My brain doesn’t turn off,”
He continued:
“When I got sober, that got especially bad. And so I started listening to ‘Harry Potter’ audiobooks, and now they’re the thing I listen to every night. So they have a very special place in my heart.”
Harington went through a tough time mentally and emotionally right after he was done filming Game of Thrones. Due to extreme stress, the actor developed an alcohol addiction and eventually attended a wellness retreat in 2019 to get better.
As Harington revealed, listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks gave him peace and comfort, and still does. Thus, he couldn't say no when he was offered the role of Lockhart. On the podcast, Harington also talked about what he thought of the show at first and what his initial reaction was to the offer. He said:
“When I knew they were doing this show, I was like, ‘I think that’s a brilliant idea, I think they can really delve into it further than the films did.’ I’m fully supportive of it,"
Harington continued:
“And then I got called to be in it, and that was just a very simple, ‘Yes, please!'”
This, however, isn't Harington's first time playing Gilderoy Lockhart. The actor has voiced the same character in Harry Potter Full-Cast Editions. Now, we will also see him play the character on screen.
Harington couldn't reveal anything about the look of the character since everything is being kept under wraps. However, he did express that stepping onto the set for the first time felt extremely special, as it would for any fan of the books. He said:
“I’m a bit of a nerd for it and I love it like I do.”
Kit Harington found peace through the audiobooks and evidently couldn't give up the opportunity of playing a character of the world he loves so much.
The Harry Potter series will premiere on HBO on December 25, 2026. Season 2 is currently under production and expected to be released in late 2027 or in 2028.
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