In a surprising turn of events, Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington has been cast as the wizarding world's celebrity-turned-Hogwarts instructor, Gilderoy Lockhart, in the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series. Originally, X-Men star Nicholas Hoult had been announced for the role but has had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, as confirmed by HBO. The eight-episode series, set to premiere this Christmas, is an adaptation of JK Rowling's best-selling books and will cover the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The series stars newcomer Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as his best friend Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Other notable cast members include Oscar-nominated actor Jon Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid. The show could reunite Harington with director Mark Mylod, who worked on Game of Thrones and is directing some Harry Potter episodes. Hoult, along with other cast members, has faced backlash for his decision to join the series due to opposition to JK Rowling's views on gender identity and trans rights. The HBO series, planned to span over ten years and multiple seasons, aims to cover each of Rowling's seven books, which the original eight blockbuster films were based upon. Representatives for both Harington and Hoult did not immediately respond to requests for comment.