Nicholas Hoult is out the door as the iconic, and all around loved/hated, ‘Harry Potter’ villain, Gilderoy Lockhart. Stepping up to take his mantle is ‘Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington.
Do we see the appeal? Who knows, we might once he goes blonde.
Key Takeaways:
- Kit Harington reacts to being cast as Gilderoy Lockhart.
- The actor reveals he’s a longtime Harry Potter fan.
- Fans have mixed reactions to the unexpected casting shake-up.
Kit Harrington Opens Up About His Love of the Popular Book Series ‘Harry Potter’
Since it is intended to be a show that the whole family gets to enjoy, the new adaptation of ‘Harry Potter’ will be dropping its first season on HBO (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription) in December.
I absolutely see and love the appeal of having ‘Harry Potter’ ringing in the holiday season, which we all know is the time of year that makes the word family carry more weight than it usually does – for those who celebrate, that is.
Following Hoult’s exit due to scheduling conflicts, Kit Harrington has been called upon to take up the role of Gilderoy Lockhart for the already greenlit season 2.
“Yeah, you’re the first person I’m talking to about this. It just got released. I’m thrilled. I’ve said a million times, for anyone who cares, that I’m a huge Potter fan,” Harrington gushed, shortly after his casting news was made public. “I’ve got to be honest, he’s one of my favorite characters. So, to be offered to play him is a real dream.”
And since he’s already got experience voicing him in the audiobook, maybe this recasting could prove to be a cinch after all? However, fans have some very mixed reactions to his casting.
Fans React To Kit Harrington As Gilderoy Lockhart
Whilst Nicholas Hoult’s casting for the same role was received largely positively, Kit Harrington’s has been pretty much mixed so far.
“I just can’t see it. He’s too exotic looking for the part. The character is this stereotypical white blonde blue-eyed character who’s completely narcissistic yet charming and funny all at once,” one fan commented.
“Kit Harington’s brooding style is the opposite of Lockhart’s preening vanity. Is this a deliberate darker take or a miscast?” a second fan wondered.
Another fan saw the positive in his casting and declared, “This is better because he will be playing how he voiced him in the audiobooks.”
Reacting to Hoult stepping back from the role, another fan chose to write, “Oh good, Hoult decided he needed a career more than he needed to live his childhood dream.”
Another fan cheered on Harrington, writing, “Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart is such a hilarious bit of casting Going from Jon Snow to the most shamelessly self-obsessed wizard in Hogwarts? I’m absolutely here for it.”
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