Nick Frost, the actor set to play Rubeus Hagrid in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter television series, recently shared an unexpected source of inspiration for his portrayal of the beloved half-giant. Frost revealed that he looked to Michael Clarke Duncan’s character John Coffey from the 1999 film The Green Mile to help shape his version of the Hogwarts groundskeeper.
The Shaun of the Dead actor will take on the role originally made famous by the late Robbie Coltrane. The new Harry Potter series plans to adapt each of J.K. Rowling’s seven books into its own season, giving Frost much more screen time than the original films offered. This extended format allows him to explore Hagrid’s character in greater depth.
In an interview with The Times, Frost explained his creative process for developing his take on Hagrid. He pointed to John Coffey from The Green Mile as a key reference point. Coffey, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, is a large and powerful man with a gentle soul who was wrongly sentenced to death. Frost described the character as “huge, violent but childlike.”
“Some people won’t like it. They’ll go, ‘Not my Hagrid.’ And that is all right.”
Honoring Robbie Coltrane While Adding Something New
Frost made it clear that he has deep respect for what Robbie Coltrane accomplished with Hagrid. He explained that he has “tried to take what Robbie did and honour that.” However, the television format provides opportunities that the movies could not offer.
“Robbie had two and a half (hours) – there has to be a bit more to him,” Frost said about the difference in runtime. This extra time has allowed him to add new layers to the character. He has even given Hagrid a backstory, deciding “he’s from Bristol” and portraying him as “nice, a bit quiet.”
The actor also drew inspiration from his personal life for the role. Frost mentioned his uncle Emy, who “never grew up” after being diagnosed with scarlet fever in the 1950s. This personal connection helped him bring a specific vulnerability to the character.
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The Character That Inspired Nick Frost’s Hagrid
John Coffey remains one of Stephen King’s most memorable characters. In The Green Mile, Coffey is a prisoner at Cold Mountain Penitentiary who possesses supernatural healing abilities. He is a gentle giant who was wrongly convicted of murdering two young girls. The character’s combination of physical power and childlike innocence is what Frost found compelling for his Hagrid.
Frost previously shared his dedication to landing the role. He told The Guardian that he “wrote out the word ‘Hagrid’ 7,000 times” after his partner suggested manifesting the part. His commitment paid off when HBO cast him in April 2025.
The Harry Potter series will debut on HBO on Christmas Day, 2026. Production is underway at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, where the original films were shot. The first season will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Frost faces the challenge of following Coltrane’s beloved performance. He told Collider that he wants his Hagrid to be “funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike.” By combining his respect for Coltrane with inspiration from The Green Mile and his personal experiences, Frost aims to create a Hagrid that honors the past while standing on its own.
The actor expects some viewers will resist his interpretation. He has acknowledged that fans might say “Not my Hagrid,” and he accepts that reaction. His approach shows a clear understanding of the character’s core traits: loyalty, warmth, vulnerability, and occasional bursts of temper.
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