12 August,2026 02:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Nicholas Hoult. Pic via Instagram
Nicholas Hoult is adding another iconic villainous character to his growing Hollywood resume. After stepping into the DC Universe as Lex Luthor in Superman, the actor is now set to enter the wizarding world as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series.
According to Deadline, Hoult, 36, has been finalised to play the flamboyant Defence Against the Dark Arts professor in the show's planned second season. The character previously came to life on screen through Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
For those familiar with the books, Lockhart is hardly your typical Hogwarts professor. Vain, boastful and obsessed with fame, he has built his reputation by claiming credit for defeating some of the wizarding world's most dangerous creatures.
His CV includes several bestselling books about his supposed adventures, along with five wins for Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. However, beneath the perfectly styled hair and dazzling smile lies a much less impressive truth.
Lockhart is introduced in the second Harry Potter book when Albus Dumbledore appoints him as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. His larger-than-life personality and questionable credentials make him one of the most memorable characters in Chamber of Secrets.
Hoult now gets the chance to put his own spin on the character, following Branagh's memorable portrayal in the original film franchise. The series has also cast Peter Serafinowicz as Peeves the Poltergeist, a beloved character omitted from the original films.
The role also marks another major television chapter for Hoult. The British actor first became widely known for Skins before starring in The Great, which earned him Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. His film career has included playing Hank McCoy, aka Beast, in the X-Men prequels before his recent turn as Lex Luthor opposite David Corenswet in James Gunn's Superman.
Meanwhile, HBO's Harry Potter reboot is planned as a seven-season adaptation of J.K. Rowling's seven novels, allowing the story to explore the books in greater detail than the original films.
Newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton will lead the series as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The ensemble also includes Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.
The first season of the highly anticipated series is scheduled to premiere on December 25, 2026, with Lockhart expected to make his entrance in the second season.
