Branagh Enrols At Hogwarts

The hoohah over casting egotistical Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart has raged long and hard. We've seen proposed names flying back and forth for months as the rumour mill desperately tried to put a face to the wand. But, now that the dust has settled, Kenneth Branagh has emerged victorious and has signed up to play the part in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Lockhart is a charming, if somewhat self-absorbed, wizard who is enlisted to teach defence against the dark arts at Hogwarts and becomes the subject of a crush by Harry’s friend Hermione. While Kenneth wasn't the first name that sprang to Empie Online's mind when searching for a suitable wizard, we have to say that we think it's a righteous choice. While always putting on a good show as one of the Bard's protagonists, Branagh can camp it up with the best of them - did you see Wild Wild West? - and will doubtless make fans proud in next year's Potter sequel.