Just weeks after announcing that he would play Gilderoy Lockhart in “Harry Potter” Season 2, Nicholas Hoult has stepped down. The official reasoning is that it would clash with his “Superman” universe role after there were changes to the filming schedule. Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones” will now take on the iconic role.
Just like before, fans have been quick to react to the news. While initially there was a lot of excitement over Hoult taking on the role played by Kenneth Branagh in the original movies, that turned sour. More and more voices were negative about Hoult’s decision to attach himself to a project that is overshadowed by J.K. Rowling’s comments about the trans community.
Fans Now Celebrate Nicholas Hoult Stepping Down
GettyFans took to Reddit to share their thoughts about the recent decision, praising Hoult for deciding to step back. One user shared, “I’m sad he was involved at all. Maybe he didn’t know. Who knows. Glad he isn’t involved anymore.”
That sparked a discussion about whether Hoult understood the type of backlash that he would receive or not. Some were quick to defend him, noting that not all celebrities pay attention to social media — where most of the “Harry Potter” discourse has taken place — to protect their own mental health. It genuinely could have been a scheduling conflict that led to the need to remove a project from his ever-busy calendar.
Others did go against the grain, with one sharing, “That’s a shame, I would’ve loved to see him in it.”
Just after that, another user shared that while they were excited about Hoult on the show, they are also looking forward to seeing Harington’s performance. After watching him on “Game of Thrones” and “Industry,” they’re ready to see him tackle a character Branagh brought to life.
Why Nicholas Hoult Stepped Down From ‘Harry Potter’
GettyThe official line remains that Hoult had too many projects. Not only is he continuing his role as Lex Luthor in the next “Superman” movie, coming out in 2027, he will soon have press events to promote his upcoming heist comedy, “How to Rob a Bank,” and he is also set to voice a role in “CoComelon: The Movie,” slated for 2027.
However, some are quick to suggest that he realized the negative impact the new role would have on his career. The Metro shared that many of his supporters stopped sharing any updates on his career after the announcement of his role, including the X fan account @houltdaily.
After the initial support, others shared their disappointment in Hoult agreeing to the casting, saying, “Nicholas Hoult you have lost a lot of respect here I will no longer be supporting your projects,” and “Incredibly disappointed. Used to be one of my favourite actors but oh well!”
He’s not the only actor to face backlash, despite many speaking out in support of the trans community since taking on the role. Paapa Essiedu, John Lithgow, and Bel Powley have spoken out about distancing themselves from Rowling while also being a part of the “Harry Potter” TV series, sharing that they are separating the fictional work and its creator.
Hoult never publicly addressed the criticism. However, in 2024, he shared his love for the fictional world, revealing that he had auditioned for both Harry and Draco in the original movies.
