Nicholas Hoult is heading from Metropolis to Hogwarts. The Superman star has signed on for HBO’s new Harry Potter TV adaptation and will appear in season two as the self-absorbed Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.
The casting update, first reported by Deadline, adds another notable name to HBO’s long-term take on J.K. Rowling’s books. Hoult is expected to arrive in the second season, which will cover Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In that story, Lockhart comes to Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor during Harry’s second year. He presents himself as a glamorous celebrity author whose books recount a string of remarkable adventures and heroic deeds.
But the polished public image hides a man who is wildly unqualified, with his reputation built on taking credit for other people’s accomplishments through memory charms. That deception eventually fuels one of the novel’s most memorable sequences.
Kenneth Branagh previously played the role in Chris Columbus’ 2002 film version.
For Hoult, the casting has an added layer of history. Around 26 years ago, when he was still a child actor, he auditioned for Harry Potter before the role ultimately went to Daniel Radcliffe.
Now, more than two decades later, the 36-year-old is finally entering the wizarding world in an official capacity.
The part also seems well suited to Hoult’s strengths. He has built a reputation for playing arrogant, comic characters, notably Emperor Peter in Hulu’s The Great, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination for best lead actor in a comedy series in 2022, and the smug foodie in The Menu.
It is also a sharp contrast with one of his latest big-screen turns, playing Lex Luthor opposite David Corenswet in Superman.
Hoult becomes part of a growing ensemble for HBO’s high-profile reboot. The adult cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.
The central student trio will be played by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Season one, based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is currently scheduled to debut on Christmas Day 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. The eight-episode first season will feature a score by Hans Zimmer.
HBO renewed the series for season two in May. Work on season two is due to start this fall as the studio looks to keep the gap between seasons as short as possible. Screenwriters have already begun adapting the second book to shorten the break between seasons.