Nicholas Hoult has quit his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series amid backlash surrounding author JK Rowling, with Kit Harrington replacing him21:42, 24 Aug 2026Kit Harington is replacing Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. It was announced earlier this month that X-Men actor Hoult, 36, would star as the Hogwarts professor in the HBO adaptation of the fantasy novels by JK Rowling. But in a new announcement that was a post on the Harry Potter Instagram page on Monday, it was revealed that Harington would be stepping into the role because of “a slight change due to schedule”.‌The post featured a picture of the 39-year-old British actor with the caption: “Before we begin year two at Hogwarts, there has been a slight change due to schedule. Kit Harington will be stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.”‌Hoult was announced as the original casting of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in an HBO Max post on Instagram on August 12.‌The news came shortly after it was announced that the role of Ginny Weasley would be recast for the show’s second series because of “unforeseen circumstances”, and actress Gracie Cochrane was leaving the series.The show aims to be a faithful adaptation of Rowling’s novels, while providing a wider insight into the magical wizarding world beyond that depicted in the hit film franchise, which ran from 2001 to 2011 and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, as well as a host of British acting legends like Dame Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman.‌The three main characters are young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, played by Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton. The cast includes Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape and US actor John Lithgow as the wise and powerful headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Albus Dumbledore.Bel Powley plays Petunia Dursley in the series, and said she “strongly disagrees” with Rowling’s views on gender in a recent interview with The Telegraph. “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance,” she said at the time.‌Rowling has denied being transphobic and previously said she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”. The author has said she believes biological sex is immutable and has been critical of self-declared gender identity, calling it “quasi-religious” and “anti-science”.The first season of the HBO show will launch this Christmas and has been adapted from Rowling’s first novel, Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.Earlier reports suggested a 2027 release date for the first series, so fans were thrilled to discover the highly anticipated fantasy series will arrive sooner than expected.Article continues belowA logline for the show reads: “There is nothing special about Harry Potter - at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past."Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .