Nicholas Hoult's Harry Potter casting is being called the perfect Gilderoy Lockhart
Nicholas Hoult's Harry Potter casting is being called the perfect Gilderoy Lockhart
Aashna Wed, August 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM UTC
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Nicholas Hoult's Harry Potter casting is being called the perfect Gilderoy Lockhart ©YouTube/The Graham Norton Show
Prepare to be dazzled, Hogwarts! Gilderoy Lockhart has officially found his face in the upcoming Harry Potter adaptation, and fans think the casting is almost too perfect.
HBO has confirmed thatSuperman star Nicholas Hoult has been cast as the famously vain Defence Against the Dark Arts professor in the second season of the upcoming series (titled Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), and the internet is already convinced that the actor was born for the role. Hoult will join the leading stars & the new magical trio of Dominic McLaughlin as the titular wizard, Alastair Stout as his best friend Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as the cleverest witch of her age, Hermione Granger.
Nicholas Hoult’s casting brings a fascinating new dimension to one of the wizarding world’s most flamboyant characters, played by Kenneth Branagh in the original films.
With Hoult now officially joining the cast, fans are already imagining his take on Gilderoy Lockhart.
Nicholas Hoult's Harry Potter casting is a hit among fans
While HBO'sHarry Potter adaptation has received major backlash for its previous casting choices, Nicholas Hoult's casting as Gilderoy Lockhart is a hit among fans.
Gilderoy Lockhart, who Dumbledore recruits as the Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts in the second entry, considers himself no less than a celebrity. While widely celebrated across the wizarding world for his daring exploits against dark creatures, Lockhart is ultimately exposed as an ego-driven fraud whose only true magical talent lies in casting powerful Memory Charms.
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Soon after HBO announced Nicholas Hoult's casting in Harry Potter, fans flocked to online forums like Reddit and provided their seal of approval. Check out some of the fan reactions:
''He’s outstanding in every role with so much range. Phenomenal choice,'' wrote one user.
''Anyone who's watched Nicholas Hoult in literally anything will know it's exceptional casting,'' agreed another user
''This is just about as close to perfect casting for Lockhart as I can think of.'' another user hailed it as the perfect casting
Why is Nicholas Hoult perfect to play Lockhart in Harry Potter?
Anyone who has seen Nicholas Hoult portray Emperor Peter III of Russia, the eccentric, childish, and often cruel husband of Empress Catherine the Great in Hulu's satirical comedy-drama series The Great, can confirm that he is the perfect choice to play the vain professor in Harry Potter. Hoult's absurdist "frat boy" energy, blending dark humor with unexpected vulnerability and charm in the series, practically feels like an unofficial audition for Lockhart, and fans are digging it.
Additionally, Nicholas Hoult is no stranger to playing vain antagonists, having played Lex Luthor inSuperman, opposite David Corenswet's titular superhero. Hoult is all set to reprise the obsessive, determined, and relentless villain in the upcoming sequel Man of Tomorrow.
Nicholas Hoult has also played a string of antagonists recently, namely Tyler in The Menu and Bob Mathews in The Order, which proves that he is perfect to play the Harry Potter professor in Season 2.
The second season of the upcoming adaptation is expected to begin filming this Fall, ahead of the Christmas premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The series will be released on HBO and available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
Nicholas Hoult will be joined by key returning cast members in the sophomore season, including Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
