Kit Harington joins Harry Potter audiobooks as Gilderoy Lockhart

Kit Harington is stepping back into a fantasy universe, this time not with a sword but with his voice. The actor, best known for playing Jon Snow in Game Of Thrones, has joined the Harry Potter audiobook series on Audible, where he voices the flamboyant and famously self obsessed wizard Gilderoy Lockhart. His performance appears in Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, which was released earlier this month as part of Audible’s expanded rerecording of J.K. Rowling’s books with a star studded cast.

Harington has spoken openly about his long standing love for the Harry Potter books, describing himself as a devoted reader who grew up alongside the series. He has said the novels were a formative part of his childhood and later became a comforting presence in adulthood through the original Stephen Fry audiobooks. That deep familiarity made the transition into voicing one of the franchise’s most theatrical characters feel natural rather than daunting.

Lockhart, previously portrayed on screen by Kenneth Branagh, is known for his exaggerated confidence and hollow bravado, traits Harington leaned into during recording. He has explained that the character represents a cautionary figure within creative industries, someone who mistakes image for substance and eventually becomes undone by his own ego. Rather than playing Lockhart as suave or polished, Harington chose to make him larger than life, embracing the absurdity that makes the character memorable.

The Audible Harry Potter series has attracted a notable list of actors, with performers such as Matthew Macfadyen, Keira Knightley, Riz Ahmed and James McAvoy lending their voices to other key roles. Several of Harington’s former Game Of Thrones co stars are also involved, creating an unexpected crossover between two of the biggest fantasy properties of modern pop culture.

Harington has made it clear, however, that his enthusiasm for Harry Potter does not extend to revisiting Game Of Thrones in audio form. He has stated that after spending a decade in that world, he is content to leave it behind and focus on new projects. By contrast, he has expressed excitement at the idea of introducing Harry Potter to his children in the future and sharing the books as a family experience.

Online reaction to Harington’s casting has been largely positive, with fans praising the choice and sharing clips of his performance across social media platforms. Many listeners have highlighted how well his voice suits Lockhart’s theatrical personality, while others have welcomed another major name joining the growing audiobook ensemble. At the same time, discussion around the project has reignited broader debates about the Harry Potter franchise and its cultural footprint, showing that even audiobook releases can spark significant conversation.