Nicholas Holt to play Chrysostom Locons in HBO Max’s Harry Potter series

British actor Nicholas Holt officially joined the cast of the series “Harry Potter” from the streaming service HBO Max. He got the role of the narcissistic teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts Zlatopust Locons in the second season of the show.

Holt’s appointment was an ironic return to the history of the franchise: more than 20 years ago, the actor auditioned for the role of Harry Potter himself for the film “Philosopher’s Stone”, but the role then lost to Daniel Radcliffe. In addition, the director and executive producer of the new series is Mark Milod, with whom Holt has already worked on the thriller “Menu”.

Premiere of the first season and shooting a sequel

The first season of the show, consisting of 8 episodes and adapting the first book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, will be released on the HBO Max platform on December 25, 2026.

Filming of the second season (“Secret Room”), where the hero Nicholas Holt will first appear, will begin in the fall of 2026. The position of showrunner of the second season with Francesca Gardiner will be shared by John Brown, who worked on the series “Heirs”.

Adult cast

If the central trio of characters will be played by debutants (Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton), then the adult cast of Hogwarts teachers and key characters is selected from experienced actors:

• Albus Dumbledore: John Lithgow
• Minerva McGonagall: Janet Mactir
• Severus Snape: Paapa Esciedo
• Rubeus Hagrid: Nick Frost.
• Lucious Malfoy: Johnny Flynn.