Fans agree on one thing after Nicholas Hoult’s Harry Potter role is revealed

Here's one for the Harry Potter diehards and TV adaptation obsessives: Nicholas Hoult is apparently set to step into the shoes (rather lovely, probably Italian leather) of Gilderoy Lockhart in the second series of HBO's Potter reboot. Yes, the same role that Kenneth Branagh frilled up so delightfully in Chamber of Secrets – and judging by fan chatter, people are already drafting up their own acceptance speeches for Hoult's performance awards.

Season 2 of the Harry Potter TV show begins filming autumn 2026.

The Great Pretender Returns

HBO only gave the official nod to series two back in May, well before the first season even lands on 25 December this year – now they're moving quickly behind the scenes, roping in Hoult for the big, showy role of Lockhart. If you've forgotten, Lockhart's that vain, self-obsessed wizard with a head as big as his book deals, and less backbone than a chocolate frog. Branagh absolutely hammed it up in the old films, and now fans get to see what Hoult's learned after playing sociopaths, comic fools, and – most recently – proper supervillains.

Fans Have Their Say

The online mob – never short of opinions – flocked to X (the site formerly known as Twitter, though everyone still calls it Twitter) as soon as Deadline dropped the casting news. Quite a few are genuinely pleased, even if a few seem startled that Hoult isn’t playing someone far nastier with no nose.

• Maeve McLaughlin declared that Hoult is 'a good actor, he'll deliver' – in the blunt, British-understatement sort of way that actually means she expects him to smash it.
• One commenter going by Tiny Furry Criminals is 'digging this casting', which coming from the internet is basically a five-star review.
• User Flores reckons the 'vain, insecure, fraud' energy is spot on for Hoult after his stint as Peter in The Great – 'the man can do pompous and pathetic in one breath and Lockhart needs exactly that.'
• Someone else pointed out that Hoult is having a villainous streak right now, running from Lex Luthor straight into Lockhart, which is honestly a bit of a flex.
• And, because social media is social media, there was even a post imagining Hoult as Voldemort – not Lockhart at all – finishing with 'I thought he is about to be YOU-KNOW-WHO,' plus the obligatory dodgy Photoshop job.

No word yet on when Hoult will don the turquoise robes and start signing headshots, but with filming lined up for autumn 2026, expect plenty more casting news (and meltdown from the internet) well before the cameras actually roll.