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Nicholas Hoult joins Harry Potter TV show - see the cast so far

Ian YoungsCulture reporter
Getty Images Nicholas Hoult looking slightly off camera with dyed blond hair, white shirt and tie and black dinner jacket at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Los Angeles County Museum of ArtGetty Images

Nicholas Hoult, known for his roles in X-Men, Superman and Mad Max: Fury Road, has been cast in the hotly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.

The English actor, 36, will play Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart - who was portrayed by Sir Kenneth Branagh in the films.

The TV adaptation of JK Rowling's best-selling books will reach screens this Christmas, although Hoult will not be seen until season two.

In the stories, Lockhart was a celebrity author of books such as Magical Me before joining Hogwarts as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's second year.

HBO announced the casting by quoting the title of Lockhart's autobiography and one of his famous lines: "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."

Aidan Monaghan/HBO Dominic McLaughlin in round glasses in a scene from Harry PotterAidan Monaghan/HBO
Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter in the TV show

Hoult found fame alongside Hugh Grant in the big-screen adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel About A Boy in 2002, before going on to star in teen drama Skins.

He played Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, in four X-Men movies, was Lex Luthor in the recent Superman film, was nominated for an Emmy for The Great, starred in Oscar-nominated film Nosferatu, and played the lead role in a biopic of author JRR Tolkien.

He is the latest name to join the cast for the TV version of Harry Potter, which is expected to last for a decade.

Harry Potter TV show: The main cast so far

Lara Cornell/HBO John Lithgow in a robe, hat and long grey beardLara Cornell/HBO
John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
Lara Cornell/HBO Paapa Essiedu in a black zip-up jacket and cape looking moody in a snowy forestLara Cornell/HBO
Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
Lara Cornell/HBO Janet McTeer in a checked jacket holding a book and white featherLara Cornell/HBO
Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
Aidan Monaghan/HBO Daniel Rigby standing behind a seated Bel Powley with his hands on her shoulders, both looking anxiousAidan Monaghan/HBO
Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley as Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley
Aidan Monaghan/HBO Nick Frost in green jacket with long hair, moustache and beardAidan Monaghan/HBO
Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
Aidan Monaghan/HBO Warwick Davis boarding a red steam train and smiling at the cameraAidan Monaghan/HBO
Warwick Davis as Professor Filius Flitwick
David Jon/HBO Max Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout standing together ina promotional photo and not in costumeDavid Jon/HBO Max
And as in the films, young newcomers make up the central trio - Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley

The show's first season - named Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone after the UK title of Rowling's first book - will be launched on HBO Max on 25 December.

The author's seven books were published between 1997 and 2007, and were turned into eight films from 2001 to 2011.

Rowling has since also become known for her outspoken views on the issue of gender identity. She says she is defending women's rights and has denied accusations of transphobia.

Many of the TV show's adult cast members have fielded questions in recent years about whether they support her stance, and taken varying positions.

The subject was in the headlines again this week when Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, told the Telegraph she "strongly disagrees" with the author.