Star Kit Harington probably knew that he’d be questioned about his decision to join the cast of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, and he got an opportunity to break out his defense in a recent interview. Nearly every notable cast member of the upcoming show has been called out by critics of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, whose transphobic views have sullied her reputation in recent years and soured many die-hard fans of the series. Rowling remains closely involved with the show, HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed in a separate interview. Meanwhile, Harington explained why he decided to join the franchise despite the blowback his decision would definitely bring.
Harington, best-known for playing Jon Snow in HBO’s flagship fantasy series Game of Thrones, will appear as the narcissistic grifter Gilderoy Lockhart in Season 2 of the Harry Potter show, which will focus on the second novel in Rowling’s series. Lockhart was originally played by Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Nicholas Houltwas initially cast as the character in the HBO reboot before Harington replaced him. In an appearance on the Today show, Harington said that his lifelong obsession with the Harry Potter books and movies outweighs all else. In his own words:
“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. 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.”
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Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw
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Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it’s your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
🦁Gryffindor
🐍Slytherin
🦡Hufflepuff
🦅Ravenclaw
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What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.
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A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.
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What does success look like to you? What you’re working toward defines who you’re becoming.
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What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.
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The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.
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What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.
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You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.
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The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: “You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?” This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.
The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen
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After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
Gryffindor Tower · Scarlet & Gold
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🦁 Gryffindor
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
Gryffindors don’t act because they’re fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what’s right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts’s greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.
Slytherin Dungeon · Emerald & Silver
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🐍 Slytherin
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.
Hufflepuff Basement · Yellow & Black
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🦡 Hufflepuff
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Hufflepuff is not the “safe” house or the “leftover” house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don’t need glory or recognition — you do what’s right because it’s right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world’s finest. And now you join them.
Ravenclaw Tower · Blue & Bronze
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🦅 Ravenclaw
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it’s about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don’t know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.
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Kit Harington Stars in Another Major Literary Adaptation This Month
Spearheaded by Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, the Harry Potter series will premiere this Christmas on HBO. It is being treated as the television event of the year and a huge subscription-generator for HBO in its current franchise-forward era. However, Bloys admitted that there is no way that the production will be able to meet its original plan of releasing a new season every year, although fans won’t have to wait two years between seasons either. Harington, meanwhile, was attached to a Game of Thrones spin-off revolving around Jon Snow. This month, he stars in a new A Tale of Two Cities adaptation airing on MGM+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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