Superman's Lex Luthor star Nicholas Hoult joins HBO's Harry Potter ahead of season 2, but he's not playing Voldemort

The first season of HBO's Harry Potter TV show hasn't even hit screens yet, but the second season is already adding new cast members fast, with the latest addition being Superman star Nicholas Hoult.

However, despite many fans believing that Hoult would suit up as the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort, Deadline has confirmed that the star will play villain and wizard Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter season 2. HBO later confirmed the news via Instagram, quoting the wizard, "Magical Me indeed. Now, how many autographs would you like?"

Lockhart is a major character in the second Harry Potter book, and was brought to the screen in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie by Kenneth Branagh. In the Harry Potter universe, Lockhart is a famous author and wizard who is brought to Hogwarts by Professor Dumbledore in the Chamber of Secrets as a temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. However, Potter and co soon find that Lockhart is not as capable he seems.

Season 2 is set to start filming this autumn and will adapt the second book. The Chamber of Secrets picks up the summer after The Philosopher's Stone. When term time begins, Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley head off to Hogwarts for their second year of schooling. However, when the Heir of Salazar Slytherin opens the Chamber of Secrets, a fearsome monster threatens the wizarding school, just as Dobby warned.

Season 1 is set to hit HBO and HBO Max this Christmas. The first installment will adapt the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which sees Harry enter the halls of Hogwarts for the first time after finding out he is a wizard. The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Alastair Stout as Ron, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.

It seems as though Hoult really is in his villain era, as before we see him bring Lockhart to life on the small screen, the star will return as Superman villain Lex Luthor in upcoming DCU Chapter One movie Man of Tomorrow. The Superman sequel premieres on July 9, 2027.

Harry Potter season 2 does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our ranking of the Harry Potter movies, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.