HBO’s new Harry Potter television series is assembling a fresh generation of witches and wizards for a massive new adaptation. This series will cover each of J.K. Rowling’s seven books in its own season, aiming for a deeper exploration of the story. A mostly new cast will lead the show, which started filming in July and is planned for a release in early 2027.
Finding the New Golden Trio
The search for the central heroes was extensive. Over 32,000 children from the UK and Ireland auditioned for the lead roles. After looking through hundreds of tapes daily, the casting directors announced their choices in May 2025.
The role of Harry Potter will be played by 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin from Scotland. His previous acting includes a part in the Sky comedy Grow and a stage production of Macbeth. Arabella Stanton, also 11, will play Hermione Granger. Stanton is known for playing Matilda in the West End production of Matilda the Musical. Completing the trio is newcomer Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Stout has very few prior acting credits, which mirrors the casting of the original films.
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, said showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod.
The Professors and Staff of Hogwarts
Many iconic adult roles have also been filled, often with actors younger than their film counterparts to match the characters’ ages in the books.
Albus Dumbledore will be portrayed by American actor John Lithgow, known for his roles in The Crown and Interstellar. Lithgow has stated he will use an English accent for the part. Severus Snape will be played by Paapa Essiedu, an Emmy-nominated actor from I May Destroy You. This casting has been a major topic of discussion among fans.
Minerva McGonagall is set to be played by award-winning English actor Janet McTeer. The beloved half-giant Rubeus Hagrid will be portrayed by comedian Nick Frost, who previously worked with Dominic McLaughlin on Grow. In a special connection to the original films, Warwick Davis will reprise his role as Professor Flitwick, making him the only actor confirmed to return from the movie series.
Other key staff roles include Luke Thallon as the nervous Professor Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as the grumpy caretaker Argus Filch.
The Wizarding Families and Students
The show has also cast the many important families and students surrounding Harry. At the Dursley home on Privet Drive, Bel Powley will play Aunt Petunia and Daniel Rigby will play Uncle Vernon.
The Weasley family will be led by Katherine Parkinson as matriarch Molly Weasley. Her children include Ruari Spooner as Percy, real-life twins Tristan and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George, and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny.
At Hogwarts, Harry’s rival Draco Malfoy will be played by Lox Pratt, who is also set to star in a BBC Lord of the Flies adaptation. His father, Lucius Malfoy, will be portrayed by actor and musician Johnny Flynn. Fellow Gryffindor students include Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, and Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil.
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Behind the Scenes and Fan Reactions
The series is being developed with a plan to run for a decade. J.K. Rowling is serving as an executive producer and has been involved with the scripts. Some original film creators have commented positively on the TV format. Director Chris Columbus noted that the longer runtime will allow the show to include “great scenes that we just couldn’t put in the films”.
Casting announcements have sparked wide conversation online. Some discussions have focused on how the series will handle parts of the original story, including certain character dynamics and language, with a new cast.
A few major roles are yet to be officially announced, most notably the villain Lord Voldemort. There have been rumors about potential actors for this part, but no confirmation from HBO or the producers as of now.
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