Nicholas Hoult joins 'Harry Potter' show as Lockhart after losing OG film role to Daniel Radcliffe
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nicholas Hoult has reportedly joined the cast of season 2 of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ series and will portray Gilderoy Lockhart.
In an Instagram post, HBO Max shared, “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. #HarryPotterHBO.”
Kenneth Branagh previously played Gilderoy Lockhart
Earlier, Kenneth Branagh portrayed the half-blood wizard Gilderoy Lockhart in ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, released in 2002.
The upcoming fantasy television series will also introduce several new faces.
Dominic McLaughlin will play young Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley.
Other key cast members include John Lithgow as Professor Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy.
Nicholas Hoult lost Harry Potter role
Hoult’s casting as Lockhart comes more than two decades after he originally auditioned to play Harry Potter in the original film series. However, the role ultimately went to Daniel Radcliffe.
Two years ago, the ‘Superman’ actor sat down with Josh Horowitz on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, where he reflected on missing out on the role.
He also joked that he could still play the young Harry in the HBO series. “I think I can probably play 11 still. I’ll just walk in with some glasses and a scar on my head and be like, ‘Hey, what’s up,’” Hoult added.
Nicholas Hoult recalls multiple Harry Potter auditions
The ‘Nosferatu’ star also spoke about his unsuccessful auditions during an appearance on ‘Hot Ones Versus’ with Lily-Rose Depp in December 2024.
Talking about Chris Columbus, who directed the first two ‘Harry Potter’ films, Hoult shared, “I think I got to the point where I auditioned with [Columbus]. He didn’t remember this, it wasn’t even a memorable audition. I think I said, ‘Hey, I auditioned for Harry Potter. Still waiting to hear back… I think I’m kind of going to age out of it soon.’”
“I remember doing a couple of auditions, and then meeting him and maybe having fake glasses for the audition. Not getting the role of Harry, and then maybe coming back and [them] being like, ‘Will you audition for Malfoy?’ I don’t think I got that either, and then they were like just gradually audition for every role in Harry Potter until they were like, ‘No,’” he added.
