The lifelong fan of the franchise also delved into why he thinks a series adaptation is needed alongside the popular films.

Kit Harington explains why he joined *Harry Potter *series amid franchise controversies

The lifelong fan of the franchise also delved into why he thinks a series adaptation is needed alongside the popular films.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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September 16, 2026 4:15 p.m. ET

Kit Harington in 2026. Credit:

JC Olivera/Deadline via Getty

- Kit Harington is thrilled to be joining the cast of HBO’s *Harry Potter* series ahead of its second season.

- The actor is set to portray Gilderoy Lockhart, the narcissistic Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

- Asked about stepping into the franchise amid pushback from fans and critics, Harington pointed to his “lifelong” love of the franchise.

Kit Harington isn’t letting the *Harry Potter* discourse kill his excitement about stepping into the wizarding world.

While visiting *Today* on Wednesday morning, Harington gushed about being chosen to portray the vain and bumbling Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart on the second season of HBO’s *Harry Potter *adaptation. When anchor Craig Melvin asked why he wanted to join the franchise amid all the backlash, the actor pointed to his longtime love for the books.

“I’ve been a lifelong* Harry Potter* fan,” Harington said. “I was a fan when I was a kid, and then I rediscovered it as an adult, listening to it every night. 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 continued, “When I knew this was happening as a series, I thought it was the best idea. 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.”

Kit Harington; Kenneth Branagh as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’.

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Peter Mountain/Warner Bros.

In portraying Lockhart, Harington is reprising the same role that he fulfilled as part of the star-studded ensemble of *Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions* that Audible released last year. (Kenneth Branagh portrayed the character in 2002’s *Chamber of Secrets*.)

The *Game of Thrones *alum, who will replace the previously announced Nicholas Hoult in the role, added that he has “had eyes on” the series for a while and “really wanted to be in it” from the jump.

Asked whether production has begun on the second season, Harington said carefully, “We’re into it now. We’re into the second season.”

Glancing around the studio, the actor added, “I feel like there’s sort of HBO snipers everywhere. I can’t say anything. It’s the most secretive thing.”

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Melivin, laughing, assured him, “This is a safe space.”

The small-screen *Harry Potter* series stars Dominic McLaughlin as the titular young Harry as he embarks on his very first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though the series won’t premiere until Christmas, the second season was given the green light by HBO in May and is expected to air in late 2027.

Harington is the latest* Harry Potter *series star to fend off questions about the turmoil surrounding the franchise due to author J.K. Rowling’s controversial views. Rowling, who wrote the original novels and serves as an executive producer on the series, has long been criticized by LGBTQ+ organizations and members of her own fan base for espousing hurtful rhetoric tied to the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) movement. Recent years have seen several stars from the original *Harry Potter *movies — including franchise leads Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson — speak out against Rowling and in support of the trans community.

Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout of ‘Harry Potter’.

Aidan Monaghan/HBO

As for the new generation of *Harry Potter *stars, Bel Powley — who will star as Harry’s muggle aunt Petunia Dursley — has stated that her participation in the series does not mean that she is aligned with Rowling’s stance on trans rights.

“I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender,” Powley said during an August interview. “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love *Harry Potter*. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”

Paapa Essiedu (who will play Professor Severus Snape on the series) proclaimed his support of the transgender, non-binary, and intersex communities by joining 400 industry professionals in signing an open letter calling for better protections for trans people.

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Meanwhile, John Lithgow (Professor Albus Dumbledore) has echoed Powley’s stance, sharing that while he does not agree with Rowling’s views, he also holds great affection for the world she has created.

For her part, Rowling has made it clear that as her wealth grows with the continued success of the *Harry Potter *and wider Wizarding World franchise, she will continue funding legal cases, foundations, and policies that seek to limit the rights of transgender women.

*Harry Potter *premieres this Christmas on HBO.

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