Nicholas Hoult is reportedly set to join the cast of HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation as Gilderoy Lockhart.
The 36-year-old X-Men: First Class and Superman actor will join the show in its second season.
According to Deadline, Hoult has been tapped to take over the character who was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 movie version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
The first season of HBO’s television adaptation of the wildly popular series is set to arrive on air this Christmas, December 25, 2026. It has been billed as a “faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling”.
In the books, Lockhart is a famous author who becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at the wizarding school, Hogwarts.
Hoult has become known for his ability to lend charm to villainous roles, notably playing Lex Luthor in 2025’s Superman.
Over the last year, HBO has unveiled an impressive cast for the new series – from its new young stars to John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Shaun of the Dead’s Peter Serafinowicz as Peeves the Poltergeist.
Last May, HBO announced that after auditioning more than 30,000 actors for the three main characters, Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry, Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione, and Alastair Stout will be Ron. The three newcomers’ characters were originated by Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, respectively.
The role of Severus Snape, which was previously played by the late Alan Rickman, will now be played by Paapa Essiedu. He is known for his roles in Genie, Gangs of London, and The Lazarus Project.
The series is expected to run for a decade, with each season based on one of the seven Rowling books. The books follow the story of 11-year-old Harry Potter as he learns of his acceptance to Hogwarts, the esteemed school of witchcraft and wizardry, and his attempts to defeat the evil Lord Voldemort.
There will be some differences between the HBO series and the much-loved Harry Potter films. Characters will be the same age they are in the books, meaning Snape will only be 31, and the Dursleys will also be much younger than in the movies.
It is not currently known if any original cast members will be making appearances throughout the series, but Daniel Radcliffe – who originated the role of Harry Potter – has expressed his excitement to watch as an audience member.
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