British actor Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO’s upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ series. Hoult will play the famous but boastful wizard who works as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in the story based on J K Rowling’s second book, ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’.

According to a PTI report from Los Angeles, the character was earlier played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film adaptation of the book. Hoult is known for his roles in films such as‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, ‘The Favourite’, ‘Nosferatu’ and ‘Superman’. He has also appeared in the ‘X-Men’ film series.

The new ‘Harry Potter’ series is a television adaptation of Rowling’s seven-book series and will feature a new cast playing the young Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

The first season is scheduled to premiere on HBO in December this year. The series has already been renewed for a second season, which will focus on the events of  ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’.