Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, HBO has announced. The 36-year-old English actor will portray the Hogwarts professor in the adaptation of JK Rowling's children's fantasy novels.
HBO confirms casting
An HBO Max Instagram post announcing the news read: "Magical me indeed. Now, how many autographs would you like? Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in season two of the new HBO original Harry Potter series."
The announcement follows news that the role of Ginny Weasley would be recast for the second series due to "unforeseen circumstances", with actress Gracie Cochrane leaving the series.
Faithful adaptation
The show aims to be a faithful adaptation of Rowling's novels while providing a wider insight into the magical wizarding world beyond the hit film franchise, which ran from 2001 to 2011. The three main characters, young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, are played by Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton.
The cast includes Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape and US actor John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore.
Cast comments on Rowling
The announcement comes after Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley in the series, said she "strongly disagrees" with Rowling's views on gender. In an interview with the Telegraph, she said: "I strongly disagree with JK Rowling's views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance."
Rowling has denied being transphobic and previously said she respects "every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them". The author has also said she believes biological sex is immutable and has been critical of self-declared gender identity, calling it "quasi-religious" and "anti-science".
The first season of the HBO show will launch this Christmas, adapted from Rowling's first novel, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone.
