Nicholas Hoult is heading from the DC Universe to the Wizarding World after being officially cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter series. The actor will take over a role previously played by Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, portraying the flamboyant Defense Against the Dark Arts professor known for his charm, vanity and questionable claims of heroism. The casting also creates a fun connection to Hoult’s past, as he once auditioned to play Harry Potter himself.
Hoult Is Taking Over a Very Memorable Role
Hoult will portray Gilderoy Lockhart when the HBO series reaches the events of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Lockhart is introduced as Hogwarts’ new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, presenting himself as a celebrated wizard with an impressive history of heroic adventures. However, his confidence and stories quickly prove to be more complicated than they appear. Kenneth Branagh previously played the character in the 2002 movie, making Hoult’s casting a fresh interpretation of a fan favorite.
Gilderoy Lockhart Is Obsessed With Fame
Lockhart is not your typical Hogwarts professor. He is incredibly vain, constantly concerned with his appearance and obsessed with being admired by others. He has written bestselling books about supposedly heroic adventures and uses his reputation to convince people that he is an extraordinary wizard. The problem is that many of the achievements he claims as his own were actually accomplished by other witches and wizards. His personality makes him one of the more comedic and memorable characters introduced during Harry’s second year at Hogwarts.
Kenneth Branagh Previously Made the Character Iconic
Before Hoult takes over the role, Gilderoy Lockhart was famously played by Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Branagh leaned heavily into the character’s exaggerated confidence and self importance, making Lockhart both hilarious and deeply irritating. His performance remains one of the most memorable aspects of the second movie. Hoult will now have the opportunity to put his own spin on the character while working within a television adaptation that is expected to have considerably more time to explore the original books.
Hoult Has a Surprising Harry Potter Connection
Hoult’s casting is particularly amusing because he actually auditioned for the Harry Potter movies when he was much younger. He originally tried out for the role of Harry Potter and reportedly went through several callbacks. He also auditioned for Draco Malfoy, but neither role ultimately went to him. Daniel Radcliffe became Harry, while Tom Felton played Draco. Nearly 25 years later, Hoult is finally joining the Wizarding World, but as one of its most flamboyant adult characters.
He Is Already a Major Franchise Star
Hoult arrives in the Harry Potter universe with plenty of experience playing characters in enormous franchises. He recently portrayed Lex Luthor in DC Studios’ Superman, adding another major comic book villain to his résumé. He has also appeared as Beast in the X Men franchise and starred in films including The Menu and Nosferatu. His ability to move between blockbuster productions and more unconventional projects makes him an interesting choice for a character as eccentric as Lockhart.
The New Series Is Reimagining the Books
Unlike the original movies, HBO’s Harry Potter is designed as a television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novels, giving the story considerably more room to explore characters and plotlines. The first season will cover Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, while the second season will move into The Chamber of Secrets. The series features a completely new generation of actors, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron.
Season Two Will Bring Lockhart to Hogwarts
Lockhart is expected to become part of the story once the series reaches Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. That means audiences will see the character alongside the newly established young trio as they encounter the mystery surrounding the Chamber of Secrets. His arrival should provide plenty of comic relief while also contributing to the increasingly dangerous events unfolding at the school. Production on the second season is expected to begin this fall, with Hoult joining an already impressive ensemble.
Hoult Has Finally Found His Way Into Hogwarts
There is something particularly fitting about Hoult eventually joining Harry Potter after missing out on the two roles he originally wanted. As a child, he auditioned to become Harry and Draco, only to watch other young actors take those parts. Now, decades later, he is entering the franchise as Gilderoy Lockhart, a role that could allow him to showcase his comedic timing and larger than life personality. His journey from failed Harry Potter audition to Hogwarts professor is certainly one of the franchise’s more unexpected casting stories.
Featured image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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