Nicholas Hoult cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO Harry Potter series

Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of the upcoming HBO Harry Potter television series. The character, a vain and self-aggrandizing wizard, was previously portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation.

The casting announcement has drawn mixed reactions from fans, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Some viewers have expressed concern regarding Hoult’s association with the project due to the involvement of executive producer J. K. Rowling, who has faced sustained criticism for her public stances on transgender rights.

Other confirmed cast members for the series include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. The first season of the reboot is expected to premiere in late 2025 or 2026, following the story of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'.