Kit Harington has spoken publicly about joining HBO’s television adaptation of Harry Potter, where he is set to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season. The Game of Thrones actor discussed the role during an appearance on Today on Wednesday, Sept. 16, framing his casting as the result of a long standing personal connection to the source material rather than a sudden decision.
Harington described himself as a devoted reader of the books. “I’ve been a lifelong Harry Potter fan,” he said, adding, “I was a fan when I was a kid, and then I rediscovered it as an adult, listening to it every night.” He explained that the audiobooks have become part of his nightly routine. “I listen to it every single night, and it helps me go to sleep, and I know other people do that as well, so they’re really important books to me.”
He said the decision to adapt the books as a series struck him as a strong idea before he was attached to it. “When I knew this was happening as a series, I thought it was the best idea,” he said. “Because I love the films, but with this, they can really explore the books at their fullest, and for a book nerd like me, that was a really great idea.” His comments framed the longer format as a chance to include material that the films could not.
On the state of production, Harington indicated that work is already advancing. “We’re into it now. We’re into the second season,” he said. He offered little detail about the storyline or his character, pointing to the secrecy around the project. “I feel like there’s sort of HBO snipers everywhere. I can’t say anything. It’s the most secretive thing,” he said.
Gilderoy Lockhart is a character who appears in the second Harry Potter story, and Harington’s casting places a familiar television lead in a supporting part within one of the most closely watched adaptations now in development. His remarks positioned the series as an effort to draw more fully from the books than the films could, and he confirmed that production has already reached the season in which his character features. Beyond that, he said, the project’s secrecy kept him from sharing specifics.
