Credit: Warner Bros.Harry Potter has no shortage of iconic villains, from Lord Voldemort to the many Hogwarts professors who have proven that not every teacher at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry can be trusted.
Now, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series has officially added another major name to its growing cast, with a familiar face from another major franchise taking on one of the wizarding world’s most memorable antagonists.
DC Actor Cast as Iconic Harry Potter Villain
Variety has reported that Nicholas Hoult will play Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second season of the HBO reimagining.
Hoult is no stranger to major franchises, having played Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men films. He’s also familiar with portraying villains, as he played Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman (2025), a role he’s set to reprise in the upcoming sequel Man of Tomorrow (2027).
Now, he’s taking on the role of the charming yet deceitful Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, who was played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Lockhart is introduced as a famous wizard known for the many adventures detailed in several books published under his name. However, in true Defense Against the Dark Arts fashion, he hides a terrible secret.
The Rest of the Harry Potter Cast
The rest of the Hogwarts faculty includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, while Warwick Davis reprises his role as Filius Flitwick.
Luke Thallon takes on the role of Quirinus Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and villain in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton lead the series as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, respectively.
As for who will play Voldemort in the series, that remains to be seen. Several names have been floated by fans and media outlets, but neither HBO nor Warner Bros. have confirmed casting.
Rumors that Voldemort will be female in the series, however, appear to have died down.
The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will debut on HBO and HBO Max on December 25. The series has been renewed for a second season, but there’s no release date yet.
What do you think of this latest addition to HBO’s Harry Potter series? Let us know in the comments below!
