Nicholas Hoult, known for his roles in X-Men, Superman and Mad Max: Fury Road, has been cast in the hotly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.<\/p>\n
The English actor, 36, will play Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart – who was portrayed by Sir Kenneth Branagh in the films.<\/p>\n
The TV adaptation of JK Rowling's best-selling books will reach screens this Christmas, although Hoult will not be seen until season two.<\/p>\n
In the stories, Lockhart was a celebrity author of books such as Magical Me before joining Hogwarts as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's second year.<\/p>\n
HBO announced the casting, external by quoting the title of Lockhart's autobiography and one of his famous lines: "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."<\/p>\n
Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry Potter in the TV show<\/p>\n
Hoult found fame alongside Hugh Grant in the big-screen adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel About A Boy in 2002, before going on to star in teen drama Skins.<\/p>\n
He played Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, in four X-Men movies, was Lex Luthor in the recent Superman film, was nominated for an Emmy for The Great, starred in Oscar-nominated film Nosferatu, and played the lead role in a biopic of author JRR Tolkien.<\/p>\n
He is the latest name to join the cast for the TV version of Harry Potter, which is expected to last for a decade.<\/p>\n
Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley as Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley<\/p>\n
Warwick Davis as Professor Filius Flitwick<\/p>\n
And as in the films, young newcomers make up the central trio – Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley<\/p>\n
The show's first season – named Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone after the UK title of Rowling's first book – will be launched on HBO Max on 25 December.<\/p>\n
The author's seven books were published between 1997 and 2007, and were turned into eight films from 2001 to 2011.<\/p>\n
Rowling has since also become known for her outspoken views on the issue of gender identity. She says she is defending women's rights and has denied accusations of transphobia.<\/p>\n