Nicholas Hoult Cast in HBO’s Harry Potter Season 2

Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series. The season will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with production expected to begin this fall.

Hoult will portray the famously vain Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, a role previously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation. The casting marks a return of sorts to the Wizarding World for Hoult, who auditioned for the roles of both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy in the Warner Bros. film adaptations before the parts went to Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton.

Season 1 of the series, based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is scheduled to premiere December 25 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.