Nicholas Hoult Faces Backlash Over Role In Harry Potter Series

Supporters of Nicholas Hoult have complicated feelings about his next role.

On Tuesday night, the US broadcaster HBO confirmed that Hoult had been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of its upcoming adaptation of the Harry Potter books.

The new Harry Potter series has already generated a lot of controversy due to the ongoing backlash surrounding the franchise’s creator JK Rowling, who is an executive producer on the show.

In the past few years, Rowling has become an increasingly divisive figure due to her views and commentary on issues relating to transgender people.

Of late, this has included deliberately and repeatedly misgendering transgender public figures, as well as donating tens of thousands of pounds to the campaign group which raised the initial legal challenge that led to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman should include only those who were assigned female at birth (and sharing a celebratory post of herself smoking cigar once the Supreme Court’s decision was reached).

As a result, many of Hoult’s fans were disappointed by the announcement that he’s accepted a part in the second season of the new Harry Potter show, voicing their feelings on social media…

Hoult began his career as a child actor, and revealed in 2024 that he auditioned for numerous roles in the original Harry Potter series around this time.

“I think I got to the point where I auditioned with [director Chris Columbus],” he recalled during an appearance on Hot Ones Versus. “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’.”

He continued: “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’.”

The first season of Harry Potter will premiere on Now, Sky and HBO Max in the UK later this year.

In the run-up to its release, numerous cast members have spoken about their decision to take part in it, often while distancing themselves from Rowling and her views.

John Lithgow admitted earlier this year that he considered quitting the series – in which he will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore – when he began to face criticism over his involvement, but ultimately decided to remain a part of it.

Meanwhile, Nick Frost, the new Rubeus Hagrid, also maintained that his and Rowling’s views on trans issues “don’t align in any way, shape or form”.

And just this week, Bel Powley took part in an interview with The Telegraph, in which she said: “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter.”