Cast of Locke & Key: Main Actors and Roles by Season

Netflix’s Locke & Key ran for three seasons, but the casting story behind it is more complicated than most fans realize. When Netflix picked up the series in 2018, it recast nearly every major role from the original Hulu pilot—only one actor survived the transition. Whether you’re trying to track which characters appear in which seasons or wondering why certain roles shifted over time, here’s the complete breakdown.

Seasons: 3 · Years: 2020–2022 · Nina Locke: Darby Stanchfield · Tyler Locke: Connor Jessup · Kinsey Locke: Emilia Jones

The table below consolidates key details about the series run and casting structure.

Cast of Locke and Key season 1

The Locke family anchors the entire series. Four actors carried the family through all three seasons: Darby Stanchfield as the widowed mother Nina Locke, Connor Jessup as eldest son Tyler, Emilia Jones as middle child Kinsey, and Jackson Robert Scott as youngest son Bode. Notably, Scott was the sole holdover when Netflix took over production—every other major role was recast from the Hulu pilot.

Locke Family

Darby Stanchfield played Nina Locke, the Locke family matriarch who inherits Keyhouse manor after her husband’s death. Connor Jessup portrayed Tyler Locke, the protective eldest sibling wrestling with responsibility. Emilia Jones took on Kinsey Locke, the middle child whose journey through fear and identity drives much of the series’ emotional arc. Jackson Robert Scott played Bode Locke, the youngest son who discovers the magical keys. According to Wikipedia’s cast records, these four maintained series regular status across every season.

Supporting Characters

Season 1 introduced several recurring players who would persist across the run. Griffin Gluck appeared as Gabe, a Matheson Academy student revealed late in the season to be Dodge in disguise. Laysla De Oliveira played the mysterious Dodge, who proves to be the primary antagonist. Aaron Ashmore debuted as Duncan Locke, Rendell’s brother, in a recurring capacity. Bill Heck played patriarch Rendell Locke in flashbacks and guest appearances. Sherri Saum appeared as Ellie Whedon, who becomes integral to the later mythology.

Genevieve Kang portrayed Jackie Veda, Tyler’s love interest through seasons 1-2. Thomas Mitchell Barnet played Sam Lesser, the season 1 antagonist who stalks the Locke children. Petrice Jones joined as Scot Cavendish, Kinsey’s love interest and leader of the Savini Squad. Hallea Jones debuted as Eden Hawkins, a classmate whose true allegiances remain murky through much of season 1.

Cast of Locke and Key season 2

Season 2 brought personnel changes and promotions. When the season premiered on October 22, 2021, two recurring cast members received bumps to series regular status.

Returning Cast

The core Locke family returned intact. The four series pillars—Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, and Jackson Robert Scott—continued their roles without interruption. Petrice Jones remained in the main cast as Scot Cavendish, though his status would shift in season 3.

Laysla De Oliveira’s Dodge moved from main cast in season 1 to a recurring role, appearing less frequently as the antagonist’s schemes evolved. Griffin Gluck continued as Gabe, though the character’s secret identity as Dodge was now established, allowing Gluck to play a more emboldened performance. According to interviews with SYFY Wire, both actors adjusted their portrayals after the season 1 reveal.

Aaron Ashmore, who had been recurring in season 1, was promoted to series regular for season 2 as Uncle Duncan Locke. Hallea Jones received the same promotion, graduating from recurring to series regular as Eden Hawkins.

New Additions

Season 2 introduced new faces to fill evolving story needs. Brendan Hines joined as Josh Bennett, a history teacher at Matheson Academy who becomes Nina’s love interest. Hines entered the main cast from season 2 onward, appearing in both seasons 2 and 3. Liyou Abere guest-starred as Amie Bennett, Bode’s friend in the Black Sparrow dimension.

Kevin Durand debuted as Frederick Gideon, introduced as a recurring character in season 2 before becoming a main cast member in season 3. Durand’s character would serve as the primary antagonist in the final season. According to Bleeding Cool’s casting reports, these additions rounded out a cast that had grown to nine series regulars by mid-season.

Cast of Locke and Key season 3

The final season brought significant status changes for several cast members, with some actors stepping into leading roles for the first time while others saw their screen time reduced.

Core Ensemble

The Locke family remained central, though the supporting structure shifted notably. Sherri Saum, who had been recurring in season 1 and guest in season 2, was promoted to main cast for season 3 as Ellie Whedon. Her character had become essential to the mythology surrounding the keys and the Whedon family legacy.

Coby Bird, who had been recurring in season 1 and guest in season 2, also received a promotion to main cast for season 3 as Rufus Whedon. Kevin Durand moved from recurring in season 2 to full series regular status as Frederick Gideon, the antagonist who drives the final season’s conflict. Brendan Hines continued as Josh Bennett, having joined as a main cast member in season 2.

Some actors saw reduced roles in the final season. Petrice Jones’ Scot Cavendish, main in seasons 1-2, became recurring in season 3. Hallea Jones’ Eden Hawkins shifted from main to guest status. Griffin Gluck appeared only as a guest in season 3, down from main status in seasons 1-2. According to Wikipedia’s season breakdowns, these demotions reflected narrative decisions rather than availability issues.

Guest Stars

Season 3 featured several notable guest appearances. Bill Heck returned as Rendell Locke in guest capacity, down from main in season 1. Thomas Mitchell Barnet’s Sam Lesser appeared as a guest, reduced from main in season 1. These returns provided continuity without requiring full-time commitments from actors whose stories had reached natural endpoints.

Who is the villain in Locke and Key?

The series features multiple antagonists across its three-season run, with one character serving as the primary threat throughout.

Dodge’s Portrayal

Laysla De Oliveira plays Dodge, a demon who inhabits a key called the “Black SPS” and takes various forms to manipulate the Locke family. In season 1, Dodge appears primarily through two personas: the character themselves and Gabe, portrayed by Griffin Gluck. This dual representation allows the antagonist to operate on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Dodge’s presence as Gabe proved particularly effective because the character’s friendly student facade concealed malicious intent. ScreenRant’s character guide notes that Gabe posed as a Matheson Academy student, gaining the Locke children’s trust while pursuing the demon’s agenda. When this disguise was revealed at the end of season 1, subsequent performances by both actors intensified.

De Oliveira’s Dodge moved from main cast in season 1 to recurring in seasons 2-3, reduced as the focus shifted to other antagonists.

Other Antagonists

Season 1 featured Thomas Mitchell Barnet’s Sam Lesser as the initial antagonist, a troubled young man who becomes obsessed with the Locke family. This threat resolved by the end of the first season, though Barnet returned in guest capacity later.

Season 3 introduced Kevin Durand’s Frederick Gideon as the primary antagonist. Gideon operates in the present timeline, pursuing the Echo Key and threatening the Locke family’s stability. Durand moved from recurring in season 2 to main in season 3 to accommodate this expanded role. The character represents a different type of threat than Dodge—more human, more deliberate, and motivated by different goals.

Cast of Locke and Key season 4

No season 4 of Locke & Key has been announced. Netflix canceled the series after three seasons, with the final episode airing in August 2022. Any discussion of season 4 cast remains purely speculative.

Potential Returns

The core Locke family—Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, and Jackson Robert Scott—would likely return if the series were revived, given their consistent presence across all three seasons. However, Netflix has not indicated any plans to continue the series, and the actors have moved on to other projects.

No Confirmation

As of now, neither Netflix nor any cast member has confirmed or denied potential involvement in a fourth season. The uncertainty around season 4 means any cast projections lack factual basis. The original Hulu pilot, which eventually became the Netflix series, took several years to develop—suggesting that revival, if it occurred, would require significant lead time.

On the season 2 character shift, Hallea Jones told SYFY Wire: “Eden is already kind of evil… let’s just max this out.”

CinemaBlend reported that “Netflix wanted to go in a different direction, only Jackson Robert Scott stayed from Hulu pilot.”

The cast trajectory of Locke & Key reflects a series that expanded its ensemble through the first two seasons before consolidating in season 3. For viewers tracking specific actors—whether fans of particular performers or those mapping character appearances across episodes—the three-season run provides a complete picture of who appeared when and how their status changed. The Hulu-to-Netflix recasting remains the most significant casting event in the series’ history, fundamentally shaping the ensemble that audiences came to know. Jackson Robert Scott’s unique position as the sole actor to appear in both the Hulu pilot and the Netflix series underscores how dramatically the production pivoted between its two homes.