Nicholas Hoult facing boycott from trans activists after accepting Harry Potter TV series role
Nicholas Hoult has been confirmed as the latest high-profile addition to HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation, taking on the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in the show’s second season, but he has faced some backlash for it.
The 36-year-old English actor will portray the infamously narcissistic and self-aggrandising wizard who becomes Hogwarts’ Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, a part originally brought to life by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film.
Production on the second season, based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is set to commence this autumn.
The first season, subtitled The Philosopher’s Stone, is due to premiere at Christmas. However, the casting announcement has triggered a wave of backlash from trans activists and fans who object to any involvement with a franchise so closely tied to J.K. Rowling.
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in the new HBO series | HBODedicated fan accounts on X have declared they are withdrawing their support.
“Pausing any posts on this account for the time being. Nicholas Hoult do better, so many of your fans are hurt,” wrote @houltdaily.
“Nicholas Hoult was genuinely one of my favourite modern actors and I’ve been following his career for years this feels like such a punch to the gut as a trans person,” posted user logan.
Another fan, lesbianlexluthor, wrote: “I’m going to just log off indefinitely for now. I really have no idea what I’m going to do. I genuinely have no idea.”
Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter TV series
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Hoult has not yet publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his casting.
The broader cast has also faced scrutiny over their willingness to participate in a project executive produced by Ms Rowling, who has drawn sustained criticism from trans people and allies for her stance on gender issues.
Bel Powley, cast as Aunt Petunia, told the Telegraph that she “strongly disagrees with Rowling’s views on gender.”
She went on to say she believes “the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance”.
JK Rowling is serving as an executive producer on HBO’s new Harry Potter series | PAThe actress added: “But, I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books.
“I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”
That position drew considerable criticism from those calling for a boycott of the series.
Paapa Essiedu, who plays Professor Snape, and John Lithgow, cast as Dumbledore, have similarly sought to distance themselves from Ms Rowling’s views on transgender issues.
HBO Harry Potter cast: Dominic McLaughlin (middle), Arabella Stanton (left), and Alastair Stout (right) will play the three leads | HBO
For Mr Hoult, joining the wizarding world represents something of a full circle.
During a 2024 appearance on Hot Ones, he revealed that as a child he had tried out for several parts in the original film series without success.
“Not getting the role of Harry, and then maybe coming back and [them] being like: ‘Will you audition for Malfoy?'” he recalled.
“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.'”
Several key roles for the second season remain uncast. Gracie Cochrane, who portrayed Ginny Weasley in the first season, has stepped away from the part, prompting a fresh search.
Fans are also eagerly speculating about who will take on Tom Riddle, with many hoping Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper might land the role.
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