Nicholas Hoult steps down from HBO's Harry Potter after JK Rowling backlash

Nicholas Hoult will no longer play Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming second season of the Harry Potter series following backlash from fans, as HBO announce his replacement.

The highly-anticipated season has had a serious shakeup after it was announced that Hoult, 36, has dropped out of the cast.

Hoult was set to portray Professor Lockhart in the upcoming series, but some fans were left disappointed by his choice to participate due to author JK Rowling’s views on gender, which have been described as 'transphobic' by many - a characterisation the Harry Potter creator has always denied.

Instead, Game of Thrones star Kit Harington has been announced as his replacement.

And Harrington is no stranger to the character.

He has always spoken fondly of the franchise, after voicing the part of Lockhart in the star-studded Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions released late last year.

His choice to star in the series has been questioned heavily by fans. (Neil Mockford/Filmmagic)

Speaking with Audible at the time, he said: "I read it, and like so many generations, I was entranced, and then I was a huge fan all through my teenage years.

"I think there’s a little bit of Gilderoy in all of us."

The second season was green-lighted in May, and is scheduled to begin filming this fall.

But Hoult isn't the only star in the cast who has taken a stand against the creator's views.

Bel Powley, who is set to play Harry Potter’s aunt, Petunia Dursley, in the upcoming series, has since revealed her reservations about taking on the role before filming began.

Despite being obsessed with the magical films as a child, Powley noted that she 'strongly disagrees with JK Rowling’s views on gender'.

Harrington has been announced as the star's replacement to take on the role. (John Shearer/Getty Images)

Speaking with The Telegraph, the 34-year-old, said: "I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance."

The star went onto add: "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."

JK Rowling's controversial comments

Many users social media have found Rowling's views on gender disappointing in recent years, particularly relating to transgender individuals.

Rowling works as an executive producer on the show. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

She previously wrote on X: "If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth."

She also notably described the use of hormone therapy as 'a new kind of conversion therapy for young gay people, who are being set on a lifelong path of medicalisation that may result in the loss of their fertility and/or full sexual function'.

A look at the new Harry Potter cast in action

Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin)

(HBO)

Professor McGonagall (Janet McTeer)

(HBO)

Dumbledore (John Lithgow)

(HBO)

Draco Malfoy (Lox Pratt)

(HBO)

Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton)

(HBO)

Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout)

(HBO)

Professor Snape (Paapa Essiedu)

(HBO)

Hagrid (Nick Frost)

(HBO)

Aunt Petunia (Bel Powley)

(HBO)

UNILAD has contacted JK Rowling's representatives for comment.