HBO‘s Harry Potter series has locked in a key role for season two.
Nicholas Hoult (Superman, The Great) has joined the series as Professor Gilderoy Lokckhart, who comes to Hogwarts in Harry’s (Dominic McLaughlin) second year as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Lockhart is a key character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second book in J.K. Rowling’s series and the source material for season two of the show.
The character is renowned in the wizarding world for his many heroic deeds, though he’s later revealed as a fraud who took credit for the acts of others after erasing part of their memories. Kenneth Branagh previously played Lockhart in the 2002 Chamber of Secrets film.
HBO gave an early season two renewal to Harry Potter in May. The show’s first season, officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is set to premiere Dec. 25. Along with McLaughlin, the show’s core cast includes Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley), John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid), Rory Wilmot (Neville Longbottom) and Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy).
Francesca Gardiner is the showrunner for season one and executive produces with Mark Mylod (who also directs multiple episodes); Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV; and David Heyman of Heyday Films, who produced the eight Harry Potter movies. Jon Brown (Succession) is co-showrunner with Gardiner on season two.
Hoult broke out in 2002’s About a Boy opposite Hugh Grant. His credits also include Nosferatu, The Menu and four X-Men movies, starting with 2011’s First Class. He’ll next be seen in Amazon MGM’s How to Rob a Bank and the Disney+/Hulu series Mosquito, from The Great creator Tony McNamara.
Hoult is repped by UTA, 42, Sloane Offer and Relevant.
Deadline first reported the news.
