Nicholas Hoult to Play Gilderoy Lockhart in HBO Max’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series
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12.08.2026 09:27
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2 min read
British actor Nicholas Hoult has officially joined the cast of the “Harry Potter” series from streaming service HBO Max. He will play the vain Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the show’s second season.
Hoult’s casting is an ironic return to the franchise’s history: more than 20 years ago, the actor auditioned for the role of Harry Potter himself for the film “Philosopher’s Stone,” but lost the part to Daniel Radcliffe. Additionally, the new series is directed and executive produced by Mark Mylod, with whom Hoult previously worked on the thriller “The Menu.”
First Season Premiere and Filming of the Continuation
The first season of the show, consisting of 8 episodes and adapting the first book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” will premiere on HBO Max on December 25, 2026.
Filming for the second season (“Chamber of Secrets”), where Nicholas Hoult’s character will first appear, is set to begin in autumn 2026. John Brown, who worked on the series “Succession,” will share the showrunner role for the second season with Francesca Gardiner.
Adult Cast
While the central trio of characters will be played by newcomers (Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton), the adult cast of Hogwarts professors and key characters is being assembled from experienced actors:
- Albus Dumbledore: John Lithgow
- Minerva McGonagall: Janet McTeer
- Severus Snape: Paapa Essiedu
- Rubeus Hagrid: Nick Frost
- Lucius Malfoy: Johnny Flynn
