HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series has added another actor to its growing cast, with stage performer Louis Shelton set to portray an older version of Ron Weasley in a specific scene from the first season. The casting news confirms that viewers will see what Ron dreams about when he looks into the Mirror of Erised, a moment that was mentioned but never shown in the original film adaptation.
The report comes from Redanian Intelligence, a fan site known for accurately tracking casting news for fantasy productions, and has been picked up by multiple entertainment outlets . Shelton joins the previously announced Alastair Stout, who will play the younger Ron Weasley throughout most of the series.
What Louis Shelton’s Role Means for Season 1
According to the casting details, Louis Shelton will appear as the older Ron that the character sees when he gazes into the Mirror of Erised at Hogwarts . In this magical mirror, which shows viewers their deepest desires, Ron sees himself as older and more accomplished. The version of Ron in the reflection is Head Boy and captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
This scene comes directly from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In the 2001 film, Rupert Grint’s Ron explains what he sees, but the audience never actually gets to see that older version of him. The HBO series is choosing to show it on screen, giving fans a visual representation of Ron’s hopes and ambitions .
Shelton brings theater experience to the role, having appeared in stage productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, Hamlet, and Hedda Gabler . His casting suggests the series is paying attention to specific character moments that add depth to the story.
The Full Cast of Young Hogwarts Students
The main trio of young actors was officially announced through a Warner Bros. press release, with showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod praising their talent after an extensive search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann .
- Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
- Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger
- Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley (main role)
- Louis Shelton as Older Ron Weasley (Mirror of Erised)
The supporting young cast includes Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, twins Tristan Harland and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley . Other students include Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, and William Nash as Gregory Goyle .
Adult Cast Brings Veteran Talent
The grown-up witches and wizards feature some well-known names. John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, while Janet McTeer takes on Professor Minerva McGonagall . Paapa Essiedu is set to portray Severus Snape, and Nick Frost will play Rubeus Hagrid .
Other Hogwarts faculty includes Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden as Professor Cuthbert Binns, Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey, and Warwick Davis returning to the franchise as Professor Filius Flitwick .
The Weasley family matriarch Molly Weasley will be played by Katherine Parkinson, while Johnny Flynn is Lucius Malfoy . The Dursleys feature Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley . Anton Lesser will play wandmaker Garrick Ollivander, Bertie Carvel is Cornelius Fudge, and Leigh Gill takes on the role of Griphook the goblin .
Additional casting includes Naomi Wirthner as Madam Malkin, the robe maker in Diagon Alley, and Neil Edmond as an unnamed hotel manager, likely from the scene where the Dursleys try to escape the Hogwarts letters .
What This Reveals About the Series Approach
The decision to cast a second actor for Ron’s Mirror of Erised vision shows that the HBO series plans to include moments the movies skipped. This fits with what the production team has said about adapting the books more thoroughly .
Warner Bros. Discovery streaming chief J.B. Perrette called the project “the biggest streaming event in the history of HBO Max and arguably in streaming, period” . He explained that the television format allows the creative team to “go deeper, and tell more of the pieces that you didn’t capture in a two-hour movie” .
Other first season additions reportedly include Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle making actual appearances, a scene of Dumbledore visiting Flamel at home, and the introduction of Charlie Weasley, Ron’s second-oldest brother who was mentioned but never shown in the films . Characters like Dudley’s friend Piers Polkiss and Hogwarts ghost professor Cuthbert Binns are also expected to appear .
Production Details and Timeline
Filming began in July 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England, the same location where the original Harry Potter movies were made . The series is scheduled to premiere in 2027 and is planned to run for approximately a decade, with each of J.K. Rowling’s seven books getting its own season .
Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on Succession, serves as writer and executive producer. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes . The series comes from HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television, with J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and original film producer David Heyman serving as executive producers .
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Original Cast Supports the New Generation
As production moves forward, original Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has spoken publicly about the new actors taking over the roles. During an appearance on ScreenRant, Radcliffe asked fans not to compare the new cast to the original film trio .
“I would like not to be weird spectral phantoms in these children’s lives and just let them get on with it,” Radcliffe said . He expressed confidence in Dominic McLaughlin, stating, “I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me” .
Radcliffe also addressed fans who felt protective of the new young actors, suggesting the best way to support them is to stop asking about the original cast members . He reflected on his own experience growing up in the spotlight, noting that getting famous young can feel more natural because “all the weird things about fame are so intertwined with your life that they don’t feel weird” .
The Harry Potter series is shaping up to be a faithful yet expanded adaptation of the beloved books, with casting choices that show attention to both major roles and specific character moments. Louis Shelton’s addition as the older Ron Weasley confirms that even brief scenes from the books are getting careful consideration in this new retelling of the wizarding world.
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