Nicholas Hoult lands Gilderoy Lockhart role in ‘Harry Potter’ series

Ahead of its season one premiere, Nicholas Hoult is joining HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series as Gilderoy Lockhart for its second season. 

HBO Max confirmed Hoult’s casting on Wednesday, Aug. 12, with the actor set to take on the role previously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

Lockhart is a wizard who becomes the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor during Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts. The second season will adapt the second book in J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series.

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The casting gives Hoult another major franchise role following his turn as Lex Luthor in DC’s “Superman.” He previously played Hank McCoy, or Beast, in Fox’s “X-Men” film series.

Hoult began acting as a child and gained his first major film breakthrough at age 11 in “About a Boy (2002),” where he played Marcus, the young son of a single mother who develops an unlikely friendship with Hugh Grant’s character.

The actor gained wider recognition several years later as Tony Stonem in the British teen drama “Skins.” He also starred as Peter III in the historical comedy-drama series “The Great,” earning Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

Hoult will join a new generation of “Harry Potter” actors led by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

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The first season will consist of eight episodes and is scheduled to premiere on Dec. 25. It will follow Harry’s first year at Hogwarts, where he meets Ron and Hermione and begins uncovering the mystery surrounding the Philosopher’s Stone and the return of Lord Voldemort.

The adult cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Luke Thallon plays Professor Quirinus Quirrell, while Paul Whitehouse portrays Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch.

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Other cast members include Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley.

The series is being developed by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, with “Succession” director Mark Mylod among its executive producers and directors. David Heyman, who produced the original Harry Potter film franchise, is also an executive producer. Rowling is involved as an executive producer.

HBO renewed the series for a second season in May, months before the first season’s premiere. Season 2 is expected to begin filming in fall 2026, with Jon Brown joining Gardiner as co-showrunner. /ra