Even though the release of Hogwarts Legacy on PC and current-gen consoles is still a month away, the game has not shied away from revealing major connections to Harry Potter canon, including the recently revealed Headmaster of Hogwarts, Phineas Nigellus Black. Fans will immediately recognize his last name as that of the House of Black, one of the wizarding world's most notorious pure-blood families. This does, of course, make him related to Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black - but with a complicated family tree, the affiliation between the two may not be immediately obvious.

Phineas Nigellus Black, who will be played by the English actor Simon Pegg, was a significant character in the Harry Potter books and movies, being one of the portraits in Dumbledore's office (and doubling as one of his advisors). He is far from the only link that the upcoming RPG has drawn to the lore so far; Hogwarts Legacy could be hiding a Weasley family member, and one of the game's villains, Victor Rookwood, may be related to a future Death Eater. But Phineas, who will occupy one of Hogwarts Legacy's most influential roles, reveals interesting details about Sirius Black's family and Hogwarts as a whole.

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Phineas Nigellus Black Is Sirius' Great-Great-Grandfather In Hogwarts Legacy

Phineas Nigellus Black holding up his finger in Hogwarts Legacy.

Hogwarts Legacy's Headmaster, Phineas Nigellus Black, is the great-great-grandfather of Sirius Black. Phineas was born in 1847 as a middle child between three siblings, but his eldest brother, Sirius, died for unknown reasons when he was around six years old. In his memory, Phineas named his firstborn son Sirius Black II. Phineas' son then went on to have a child named Arcturus Black III, the father of Orion Black. When Orion had his first son, he named him Sirius Black III, who would eventually become the end of the bloodline, but also the noble and beloved character from the Harry Potter books and movies.

Sirius Black Looked Down Upon Hogwarts Legacy's Phineas Nigellus Black

Phineas Nigellus looking down in a Hogwarts Legacy clip.

While there are many new and returning characters confirmed for Hogwarts Legacy, Phineas Nigellus Black will seemingly play one of the game's most significant - and malicious - roles. Along with despising most of the Black family, Sirius harbored a hatred for his great-great-grandfather, describing him as the least popular Headmaster that Hogwarts had ever seen. And from what Simon Pegg reveals in this interview with Wizarding World on YouTube, it's clear why. Phineas doesn't seem concerned in the slightest about the wellbeing or education of his students, only in furthering his family's prestigious name. It's safe to assume he'll be a significant obstacle for Hogwarts Legacy's protagonists.

Thanks to his connection as Sirius Black's great-great-grandfather, Phineas Nigellus Black should prove to be one of the game's most intriguing characters. Although Hogwarts Legacy's delays have changed release dates for older-gen consoles and the Nintendo Switch, the highly-anticipated title inches closer by the day - and it won't be too long before Harry Potter fans get to unravel Phineas Nigellus Black's legacy for themselves, alongside what is sure to be a mountain of other mysteries within Hogwarts Legacy.

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Source: Wizarding World/YouTube

Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

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