The mystery around a new face on the set of HBO’s Harry Potter series is growing. New photos from London show actor John Hopkins filming alongside the Weasley family. This has led many fans to believe he will play Hermione Granger’s father in the upcoming show.
The photos were taken on May 3, 2026, at Waterloo Station in London. The scene appears to be the end of the school year. Students are returning from Hogwarts to the normal world. In the photos, Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley) stands with the twins who play Fred and George. Daniel Rigby, who plays Vernon Dursley, is also there. Right next to them stands John Hopkins.
So far, HBO has not confirmed who Hopkins is playing. But the location of the scene tells us a lot. In the first Harry Potter book, the story ends at King’s Cross station. Harry returns from Hogwarts and meets the Dursleys. The Weasley family is also there. In the book, this is the moment when Hermione’s parents appear to take her home.
Why This Casting Makes Sense for the Show
John Hopkins is known for his roles in Midsomer Murders and Poldark. If he is playing Mr. Granger, it fits what the producers have said about this new version.
The HBO series has more time than the movies did. The first season will have eight episodes. This allows the writers to show parts of the story the films had to skip. In the original movies, viewers never really meet Hermione’s parents. They only appear for a second in Chamber of Secrets. The new show plans to fix that.
Reports suggest the series will show Hermione’s life before Hogwarts. Seeing her father at the train station helps build her character. It makes the audience care more about her family. This is important for fans who know what happens later. In the final book, Hermione must erase her parents’ memories to keep them safe from dark wizards. Building up that relationship now will make that future moment much harder to watch.
The Book Ending Is Coming Back
The set photos also confirm a major change from the movies. The first film ended with Harry saying goodbye to Hagrid. But the book ends at the station with the Dursleys.
Daniel Rigby was on set as Vernon Dursley. This means the show is putting that original book ending back in. Harry’s uncle will confront the Weasleys. It sets up the tension between the magical world and the Dursleys right away.
John Hopkins was seen waiting on the platform. In the story, the Grangers are dentists. They are non-magical people, or “muggles,” who are very proud of their witch daughter. Seeing them interact with the strict Dursleys and the loving Weasleys adds a new layer to the story.
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What This Means for the Series
Arabella Stanton is playing Hermione in the new show. Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry, and Alastair Stout plays Ron. The show has already cast major stars like John Lithgow (Dumbledore) and Paapa Essiedu (Snape).
Adding John Hopkins to the cast shows the show is paying attention to the small details. Mr. Granger does not have a first name in the books. The show might finally give him one. It also means the series is not just copying the movies. It is going back to the books to find scenes that were left out.
The first season of Harry Potter is scheduled to release on HBO in December 2026. Until the official cast list comes out, fans will keep watching the set photos closely. For now, all signs point to John Hopkins getting ready to send his daughter off to wizard school.
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