Dominic McLaughlin is the new face of Harry Potter in HBO’s upcoming TV series, joining Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout as the iconic trio.
The wizarding world has found its new Harry Potter. Dominic McLaughlin, a young British actor, has been cast as the famous boy wizard in HBO’s highly anticipated TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books. The series will retell the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
More than 30,000 children auditioned for the roles in an open casting call. The search was led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann. The show’s team wanted fresh faces to bring the characters to life, just like the original films did with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.
“After an extraordinary search, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen.”
— Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod
Who Is Dominic McLaughlin?
Dominic McLaughlin is a Scottish actor with limited prior acting experience, making him a true newcomer. He was selected from thousands of hopefuls after a global search. HBO’s casting call required actors aged 9 to 11 as of April 2025, and Dominic fit the profile perfectly.
Before landing the role of a lifetime, Dominic appeared in:
- Grow, a Sky Original comedy film where he acted alongside Nick Frost, who will also play Hagrid in the Harry Potter series.
- Gifted, an upcoming BBC action-adventure series filmed in Edinburgh.
- A stage production of Macbeth at the Royal Highland Centre, where he performed with Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma.
His training at Performance Academy Scotland helped shape his acting skills. The academy shared their excitement on Facebook, calling him “the perfect Harry” and celebrating his journey over the past five years.
The New Trio: Harry, Hermione, and Ron
Dominic will lead the series alongside:
- Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger): The most experienced of the trio, she previously starred in Matilda: The Musical on London’s West End.
- Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley): A newcomer with no prior acting credits, but his resemblance to Rupert Grint has fans excited.
The trio’s casting was announced in a fun social media post by HBO Max, styled like a Hogwarts acceptance letter:
“Dear Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley: We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
Supporting Cast and Production Details
The series promises a faithful adaptation of the books, with each season covering one book. The adult cast includes:
- John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
- Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
- Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
- Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
- Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
- Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
Filming begins summer 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the same location used for the original films. The first season is expected to release in 2026.
Fan Reactions and Legacy
The original Harry Potter films earned $7.7 billion worldwide, and the new series could launch Dominic, Arabella, and Alastair into similar fame. Fans are already comparing the new trio to the original cast, with many praising the choices.
The series will stream on HBO Max, now rebranded as Max. J.K. Rowling is an executive producer, though her controversial views on transgender issues have sparked debates. HBO has clarified that her personal opinions will not influence the show’s content.
Dominic McLaughlin’s journey as Harry Potter is just beginning. With a mix of excitement and pressure, he steps into a role that will define his career. The world will soon see if he can bring the same magic to Hogwarts as Daniel Radcliffe did over two decades ago.
Credits: Sources include Wikipedia, Variety
