In a significant development, Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington has been announced to join the highly anticipated HBO adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, replacing Nicholas Hoult who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Harington will portray the charismatic yet vain character Gilderoy Lockhart, a celebrity-turned-Hogwarts instructor, in the second season that is set to premiere this Christmas on HBO Max. The series will adapt Rowling's second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which chronicles Potter's second year at Hogwarts. Dominic McLaughlin stars as the boy wizard, Alastair Stout as his best friend Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Oscar-nominated actor Jon Lithgow plays Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while Nick Frost portrays gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid. The series is expected to span over 10 years, covering each of Rowling's seven books. This new role could reunite Harington with director and producer Mark Mylod, who worked on Game of Thrones and is directing some Harry Potter episodes. However, Hoult, along with other cast members, has faced backlash for joining the series due to their association with Rowling's views on gender identity and trans rights. Representatives for Harington and Hoult did not immediately respond to requests for comment.