Kit Harington is dishing on joining the HBO Max’s Harry Potter series.
If you didn’t see the news, it was announced last month that the 39-year-old Emmy-nominated actor will be playing the role of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season, which will be focused on book two, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
This will actually be the second time Kit is playing Lockhart, as he previously voiced the character in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions that Audible released last year.
While appearing on Today on Wednesday (September 16), Kit explained why he decided to join the TV series.
“I’ve been a lifelong Harry Potter fan,” Kit began. “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.”
“When I knew this was happening as a series, I thought it was the best idea,” the Game of Thrones alum continued. “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 also noted that he has “had eyes on” the TV series for a while and “really wanted to be in it” from the jump.
Nicholas Hoult was actually the first actor cast to play Lockhart in season two, but he dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. In the 2002 movie, Lockhart was played by Kenneth Branagh.
When asked if production for season two has begun, Kit reluctantly said, “We’re into it now. We’re into the second season.”
As he quickly glanced around the studio, he jokingly added, “I feel like there’s sort of HBO snipers everywhere. I can’t say anything. It’s the most secretive thing.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on Christmas Day on HBO and HBO Max. Watch the new trailer here!
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