15 Gilderoy Lockhart Memes for Harry Potter Fans Mourning Nicholas Hoult's Departure, But Celebrating Kit Harington's Casting in the HBO Harry Potter Series

Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor

Aug 24, 2026 9:20 PM EDT

What do you think about this casting change?

On August 24th 2026, it was announced that Nicholas Hoult would no longer be playing Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter HBO Max series. The reason for his departure was cited as scheduling conflicts, which would make sense, as Hoult is one of the most booked British actors in the business. You may know him best as Lex Luthor in Superman (2025) or Beast in various X-Men projects. Kit Harrington is best known for his performance as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.

This isn't the first time an actor on the new Harry Potter TV show has left their role prematurely. The young actress set to play Ginny also stepped away from the project due to "unforeseen circumstances." It's not so surprising that a child actor wouldn't be able to commit to playing the same character for the entire remainder of their childhood. Even playing a one-off character that only appears in one book, like Lockhart (unless you count his brief appearance in Order of the Phoenix at St. Mungo's), is a big commitment.

If you're excited for the first season of Harry Potter and are glad that they're already casting for season 2, these Gilderoy Lockhart memes are a tribute to everyone's favorite secondary antagonist. Okay, he's probably not everyone's favorite, but he is at least someone's favorite.

01
How do you feel about this casting change?

via popboner
02
Gilderoy Lockhart is Captain Hindsight

via booksnbrews
03
How full of yourself can you be?

via wizardtwins_
04
Do you love yourself as much as Lockhart loves himself?

via Mustafafleur
05
I would take Divination with Trelawney, because she was right with a lot of her predictions!

via wizardtwins_
06

via wizardingworldinsta
07
If there's one thing Snape can't stand, it's incompetence

via cokeworthcauldrons & crankypotionsmaster
08
Some of you are very dumb

via potterr.memes
09
To be fair, I think he looked different in the book

via wizardweekly
10
Do you think scheduling conflicts were actually behind Nicholas Hoult's decision to depart the series?

via rejectness
11
He was evil, but at least he gave the students some real-world experience in defense against the dark arts!

via harrypotterring
12
Tom Riddle is a normal name when you compary it with Gilderoy Lockhart

via potterwiki_
13
Every British actor is connected in some way

via sarahpkellyxo
14
It should've been called "Gilderoy Lockhart and the Deadly Hallows"

via the_riddikulus_report
15
He also directed and starred in Hamlet in 1996

via funniestmoviememes23