Kit Harington just landed one of the most preening roles in the wizarding world. Here is the recasting, and the nine faces waiting for you at Hogwarts.
Harington will play Gilderoy Lockhart, the vain celebrity wizard of the second book, in Season 2 of HBO's Harry Potter series.
Nicholas Hoult had the role first. When the Lockhart scenes moved inside the Season 2 schedule, they clashed with his other commitments and he exited.
Harington is not learning Lockhart from scratch. He already voiced the character in Audible's full-cast Harry Potter audiobook recordings.
The headmaster is played by John Lithgow, a two-time Tony and six-time Emmy winner who signed on for what could be a decade of Hogwarts.
Janet McTeer takes the Transfiguration desk. She has two Oscar nominations and a Tony, and stands 6ft 1in, a very literal fit for the role.
The potions master is Paapa Essiedu, the RSC-trained actor known to TV audiences from I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project.
Nick Frost, of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, becomes the groundskeeper. It is his first role inside a franchise built to run for years.
Warwick Davis returns as Professor Flitwick, the part he played in all eight films. This time he plays only Flitwick; Griphook goes to Leigh Gill.
Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry, Arabella Stanton is Hermione and Alastair Stout is Ron. All three were newcomers picked from an open casting call.
Season 1, an eight-episode Philosopher's Stone, premieres 25 December 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. Seven seasons are planned, one per book.