Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has opened up about his deep connection to the Harry Potter franchise.
Kit Harington has revealed the Harry Potter audiobooks helped with his sobriety.
The 39-year-old actor was recently confirmed to be playing Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO’s upcoming reboot of the wizarding franchise, and he admitted Sir Stephen Fries’ narration of JK Rowling’s novels were a source of comfort once he quit drinking.
He told the Happy Sad Confused podcast: “I listen to the Stephen Fry audiobooks. And I do that because my brain is incredibly busy, especially at night, and I’ve always found going to bed very difficult.
“My brain doesn’t turn off. When I got sober, that got especially bad.
“And so I started listening to Harry Potter audiobooks, and now they’re the thing I listen to every night. So they have a very special place in my heart.”
The former Game of Thrones star recently voiced arrogant celebrity wizard Lockhart in Audible’s recent audiobooks, but he was already on board with the idea of the upcoming TV series.
He said: “When I knew they were doing this show, I was like, ‘I think that’s a brilliant idea, I think they can really delve into it further than the films did.’
“I’m fully supportive of it. And then I got called to be in it, and that was just a very simple, ‘Yes, please!’”
Kit joked the role of Lockhart isn’t a world away from himself.
He quipped: “He’s addicted to himself. He’s just a tiny step to my left.”
Production for season two of the Harry Potter series, which will focus on the Chamber of Secrets, is underway, but Kit admitted he was staying tight lipped about any potential details.
Asked if he’d started talks about how his version of Lockhart will look, he revealed those discussions are happening right now.
He added: “I’m going to say highly little about anything because it’s very secretive. But yes, I’m engaging with that as we speak.”
The self-professed Potter “nerd” is excited to step onto the iconic set for the first time, while the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden have a more grounded appeal too.
Kit, who has two young children with his wife Rose Leslie, explained: “[Harry Potter] films down the road from me. So I get to be a dad; I get to go play in a world I love. Genuinely, right now I’m very content.”
His Potter role was confirmed last month, after Nicholas Hoult was originally cast as Lockhart – who was played by Sir Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 movie adaptation – before stepping away.
A post on Harry Potter’s official Instagram page read: “Before we begin year two at Hogwarts, there has been a slight change due to scheduling: Kit Harington will now be stepping into the role of Gilderoy Lockhart.”
According to Deadline, Nicholas departed the role over “scheduling issues”.
The second Harry Potter series is expected to start filming later this year, before the first season of the HBO Max show has even aired this Christmas.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will see Dominic McLaughlin play Harry, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione Granger.
Kit Harington reveals emotional reason he took Harry Potter role
