Nicholas Hoult joins Harry Potter TV series but it’s causing devastation
Fans have been sharing their heartbreak after it was revealed Nicholas Hoult is the latest star to sign up to the Harry Potter TV series.
Hoult, who has starred in Mad Max: Fury Road, About A Boy, Nosferatu and more, will be playing the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in season two of HBO's new show based on the book series by JK Rowling.
The role of Gilderoy, the Defence Against the Dark arts teacher with a big secret, was played by Kenneth Branagh in the movies.
The first season of the show is set to premiere later this year on Christmas Day on HBO and HBO Max.
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Season two, which Hoult will be joining, is set to start filming this autumn and will be based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Hoult had built up a big LGBTQ+ fanbase over the years, in part for his character Tony Stonem in Skins, who many regarded as being sexually fluid.
Fans are disappointed after many decided to boycott the series due to the views held by JK Rowling, as she has drawn criticism for her opinions on trans rights which has caused tension with stars of the original films.
"NO!!!!!!" wrote one heartbroken fan upon hearing the news.
"Anddddd we lost another," added one, with plenty of crying emojis.
"How disappointing," said one commenter sadly, while someone else agreed: "Another one bites the dust."
"Damn. I was soooooo rooting for him. This is a slap in the face to every trans fan of his," accused another.
Someone else pointed out: "Nicholas Hoult wrapped on Cry to Heaven starring two transgender actresses and decides to join the Harry Potter TV show next."
Others defended Hoult: "He will be excellent! It’s a great story and character! And he is a talented versatile actor."
"He's a really good actor so I am very sure that he will do a fantastic job. The film industry is in such a pit right now, i would never begrudge anybody working, when there is next to no work. Let the man eat!" said someone else.
Back in 2024, Hoult revealed he had auditioned for several different roles in the original Harry Potter films.
Speaking on Hot Ones Versus he recalled: “I think I got to the point where I auditioned with [director Chris 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’.”
According to the Huffington Post, Bel Powley, who is set to play Aunt Petunia in the series said in an interview with X last week: “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter.”
John Lithgow also confessed he thought about withdrawing from the show after the backlash he received, but decided to stick with it.
Topics: TV And Film, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Entertainment
Jen Thomas