United Kingdom, Aug. 12 -- Nicholas Hoult has signed up for the second series of the Harry Potter TV series.

The 36-year-old actor will play Gilderoy Lockhart in the programme - the role previously played by Kenneth Branagh in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the 2002 movie adaptation of JK Rowling's boy wizard books.

Hoult is no stranger to playing a villain, having previously starred as Lex Luthor in the most recent Superman movie.

So he'll be a pro at portraying the vain and villainous Lockhart - a professor who serves as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, and also takes the credit for other wizards' "heroic deeds" after wiping their memories.

Nicholas has also previously enjoyed TV success in Skins and co...