Nicholas Hoult, known for his roles in X-Men, Superman and Mad Max: Fury Road, has been cast in the hotly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.

The English actor, 36, will play Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart – who was portrayed by Sir Kenneth Branagh in the films.

The TV adaptation of JK Rowling’s best-selling books will reach screens this Christmas, although Hoult will not be seen until season two.

In the stories, Lockhart was a celebrity author of books such as Magical Me before joining Hogwarts as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry’s second year.

HBO announced the casting, external by quoting the title of Lockhart’s autobiography and one of his famous lines: “Magical me indeed. Now, how many autographs would you like? Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in season two of the new HBO original Harry Potter series.”

Hoult found fame alongside Hugh Grant in the big-screen adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel About A Boy in 2002, before going on to star in teen drama Skins.

He played Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, in four X-Men movies, was Lex Luthor in the recent Superman film, was nominated for an Emmy for The Great, starred in Oscar-nominated film Nosferatu, and played the lead role in a biopic of author JRR Tolkien.

He is the latest name to join the cast for the TV version of Harry Potter, which is expected to last for a decade.

The show’s first season – named Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone after the UK title of Rowling’s first book – will be launched on HBO Max on 25 December.

The author’s seven books were published between 1997 and 2007, and were turned into eight films from 2001 to 2011.

Rowling has since also become known for her outspoken views on the issue of gender identity. She says she is defending women’s rights and has denied accusations of transphobia.

Many of the TV show’s adult cast members have fielded questions, external in recent years about whether they support her stance, and taken varying positions.

The subject was in the headlines again this week when Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, told the Telegraph, external she “strongly disagrees” with the author.