It’s almost time for a whole new generation of wizards and witches to be welcomed into Hogwarts.
“Harry Potter,” the beloved fantasy book series from author J.K. Rowling that was turned into a blockbuster film franchise, is coming to HBO as a new TV series. Each of the seven books in the series, “Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets,” “Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Goblet of Fire,” “Order of the Phoenix,” “Half-Blood Prince” and “Deathly Hallows,” will each be adapted into one season of TV.
In May, the trio of lead roles had finally been unveiled: Dominic McLaughlin will play the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. The three are largely newcomers with few prior acting credits. McLaughlin acted in “Grow,” a comedy on Sky with Nick Frost and Golda Rosheuvel, Stanton starred as Matilda in the musical of the same name in the West End, and Stout had no prior acting credits.
HBO auditioned more than 32,000 children for the lead role of Harry Potter, famously originated by Daniel Radcliffe. Executive producer Mark Mylod said that the casting team had been reviewing between 500 and 1,000 audition tapes per day.
“After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, 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. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there,” said showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod in a statement revealing the three actors.
Other series regulars include “Conclave” star John Lithgow as Album Dumbledore, “I May Destroy You” breakout star Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, “Tumbleweeds” Oscar nominee Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall and “Shaun of the Dead” comedian Nick Frost as Hagrid. Meanwhile, Paul Whitehouse (Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt,” Rupert Goold’s “Patriots”) and Luke Thallon (“The Fast Show,” “Harry & Paul”) take on recurring roles as Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell, respectively.
In June, Variety reported exclusively that Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby would play Petunia and Vernon Dursley, respectively. Other castings revealed at the time include Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy and several other Hogwarts students.
Later in the summer, an Instagram post revealed that Ginny, Fred, George, and Percy Weasley would be played by Gracie Cochrane, Tristan Harland, Gabriel Harland and Ruari Spooner, respectively. Then, Variety reported in August that Warwick Davis would be reprising his role as Professor Flitwick in the series — the only cast member from the original films to be confirmed as returning in the series. The announcement came in tandem with news that Sirine Saba would feature as Professor Sprout, Bríd Brennan as Madam Pomfrey, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns and Leigh Gill as Griphook.
The “Harry Potter” series is written and executive produced by Gardiner, who also serves as showrunner. Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
See all of the confirmed “Harry Potter” cast members below.
Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin)
Image Credit: HBO | Warner Bros. Original Actor: Daniel Radcliffe
Young actor Dominic McLaughlin will star as Harry Potter, aka the Boy Who Lived, the role that launched Daniel Radcliffe to global fame. McLaughlin previously acted in “Grow,” an upcoming comedy on Sky starring Nick Frost — who, coincidentally, will play Hagrid in “Harry Potter” and Golda Rosheuvel.
Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout)
Original Actor: Rupert Grint
Alastair Stout will play the red-headed wizard Ron Weasley and Harry’s best friend at Hogwarts. “Harry Potter” will be a huge breakout for Stout, who doesn’t have any prior acting credits. With his red hair, Stout looks nearly identical to a young Rupert Grint, who starred as Ron in the original movies.
Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton)
Original Actor: Emma Watson
Arabella Stanton is the new Hermione Granger, one of the smartest students at Hogwarts and close friend of Harry and Ron. She previously starred as Matilda in “Matilda: The Musical” on the West End, which was also her debut. Stanton inherits the role from Emma Watson, who hasn’t acted much since “Harry Potter” ended but has since starred in “Beauty and the Beast” and “Little Women.”
Albus Dumbledore (John Lithgow)
Image Credit: Getty / Warner Bros. Original Actor: Richard Harris and Michael Gambon
The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, the most senior professor at Hogwarts and an early mentor figure for Harry. Prior to the events of “Sorcerer’s Stone,” Dumbledore (with the help of Minerva McGonagall) takes baby Harry to live with the Dursleys at Privet Drive.
Severus Snape (Paapa Essiedu)
Image Credit: Getty / Warner Bros. Original Actor: Alan Rickman
The potions professor at Hogwarts, Severus Snape is the head of the Slytherin House and an early adversary of Harry and his friends. Snape is cold towards his students (particularly Gryffindors) and many of his fellow professors, and soon Harry begins to suspect Snape may have ties to the dark Lord Voldemort.
Minerva McGonagall (Janet McTeer)
Image Credit: Getty / Warner Bros. Original Actor: Maggie Smith
The head of the Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall is a transfiguration professor and an early ally of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Unbeknownst to Harry, McGonagall helped Dumbledore bring him to live with the Dursleys when he was a baby. She is also an animagus and can transform into a house cat at will.
Rubeus Hagrid (Nick Frost)
Image Credit: HBO/Everett Collection Original Actor: Robbie Coltrane
The half-giant Hagrid is a Hogwarts gamekeeper. He is the first to inform young Harry that he’s a wizard and remains a close friend to the boy, as well as to Ron and Hermione, throughout the trio’s time at school. Hagrid, though sometimes clumsy, deeply cares for living creatures. He watches over everything from dragons to Hippogriffs.
Argus Filch (Paul Whitehouse)
Image Credit: Getty / Warner Bros. Original Actor: David Bradley
Argus Filch is a caretaker at Hogwarts who couldn’t care less about the students. A strict disciplinarian, Filch works with his cat, Mrs. Norris, to sniff out misbehaving kids. He is known as a “squib,” which is someone who has no magic powers despite being descended from wizard genes.
Quirinus Quirrell (Luke Thallon)
Image Credit: Getty / Warner Bros. Original Actor: Ian Hart
Quirinus Quirrell is an anxious Defense Against the Dark Arts professor when Harry begins attending Hogwarts. The professor previously taught Muggle Studies and also went on a search for Voldemort to learn more about the evil wizard. By the time Harry gets to know him, Quirrell turns out to be far more complicated than he seems on the surface.
Draco Malfoy (Lox Pratt)
Image Credit: HBO/Everett Collection Original Actor: Tom Felton
Harry’s arch nemesis, Draco Malfoy is a student who belongs to the Slytherin house. He believes that all those who are born muggles should be denied being given an education at Hogwarts, and often bullies Harry, Ron and Hermione throughout their years at the school. Draco chooses to follow what the rest of his family believes, and nothing will stand in his way to terrorize Harry and his friends. Pratt will star in BBC’s new adaptation of “Lord Of The Flies,” where he will be playing the role of Jack, a young leader who is more interested in hunting and fighting.
Petunia Dursley (Bel Powley) and Vernon Dursley (Daniel Rigby)
Image Credit: Brian Daly; Faye Thomas; Everett Collection Original Actor: Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths
Bel Powley will be playing the sister of Harry’s mother, Petunia Dursley. After taking in Harry after the death of his parents, Petunia is harsh to Harry growing up, keeping him as far away as possible from her son, Dudley. Powley has recently starred in other TV series, including “Masters of the Air,” “A Small Light” and “The Morning Show.” She was also featured in films such as “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” “White Boy Rick” and “The King of Staten Island.”
Daniel Rigby plays Harry’s uncle Vernon. He is the director of the Grunnings, a drill manufacturing company. Vernon goes above and beyond for his son Dudley, and is oftentimes dismissive towards Harry due to his hatred for all things magical. Rigby’s most recent projects include “I, Jack Wright,” “Renegade Nell” and “Tom Jones.” He is also slated to feature in Amazon’s upcoming sci-fi series “Blade Runner 2099.”
Molly Weasley (Katherine Parkinson)
Image Credit: Getty Images/Everett Collection Original Actor: Julie Walters
The mother of Ron, Fred, George and Ginny, Molly Weasley is the English pure-blood witch who married Arthur Weasley. She has seven children, and was sorted into Gryffindor during her time at Hogwarts. Throughout the series, Weasley becomes a motherly figure towards Harry. Parkinson has starred recently in “Rivals,” “The IT Crowd” and “Here We Go”. She has also been featured in films such as “That Christmas,” “The Nan Movie” and “Radioactive”.
Parvati Patil (Alessia Leoni)
Image Credit: HBO/Everett Collection Original Actor: Shefali Chowdhury
Paravati Patil is another fellow student who attends Hogwarts, where she is sorted into Ravenclaw. She attends the magic school with her twin sister, Padma, who is placed in Gryffindor. Patil is close friends with Lavender Brown throughout the series, and ultimately becomes a member of Dumbledore’s Army, fighting side-by-side with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Seamus Finnigan (Leo Earley)
Image Credit: HBO/Everett Collection Original Actor: Devon Murray
Another member of Gryffindor, Seamus Finnigan is one of Harry’s fellow classmates at Hogwarts. It’s revealed that he is also a half-blood wizard like Harry, and that his mother waited until after she was married to tell her husband. Later in the “Harry Potter” series, Finnigan joins Dumbledore’s Army alongside the main trio.
Cornelius Fudge (Bertie Carvel)
Image Credit: Getty Images/Everett Collection Original Actor: Robert Hardy
The 32nd Minister of Magic for the British Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge has a massive influence in the magic world. He believes in pure-blood supremacy, and chooses to avoid listening to Harry and Dumbledore when they reveal that Voldemort is still alive. Carvel is a two-time Olivier award winner for his performances in “Matilda the Musical” and “Ink”. He has previously starred in shows such as “Doctor Who,” “The Crown” and will star as Prince Baelor Targaryen in the new “Game of Thrones” series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”.
Neville Longbottom (Rory Wilmot)
Image Credit: HBO | Warner Bros. Original Actor: Matthew Lewis
A fellow Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom is a member of the Longbottom family, one of the last remaining pure-blood families in the wizarding world. Neville is known for his clumsiness and his fear of Severus Snape throughout the book series. Wilmot has previously acted in projects such as “FBI: International” and “Out of the Dust.”
Dudley Dursley (Amos Kitson)
Image Credit: HBO | Warner Bros. Original Actor: Harry Melling
Harry’s cousin Dudley Dursley is a Muggle and the only child of Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Dudley is known for terrorizing Harry, and is spoiled by his parents with sweets and anything he wants. Towards the end of the series, Dudley apologizes to Harry about how he’s treated him throughout their childhood and teenage years. This will be Kitson’s debut performance.
Madam Rolanda Hooch (Louise Brealey)
Image Credit: Joe Maher/Getty Images | Warner Bros. Original Actor: Zoë Wanamaker
The flying instructor of Hogwarts, Madam Rolanda Hooch also serves as the school’s Quidditch referee and coach. While helping her students learn more about flying, Hooch is well-respected amongst her peers and students for her determination to keep everyone safe. Brealey has starred in projects such as “Sherlock” and “Back,” while also being a journalist for outlets such as Empire and Total Film.
Garrick Ollivander (Anton Lesser)
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO | Warner Bros. Original Actor: John Hurt
The proprietor of Ollivander’s, a wand shop that exists in the Wizarding World, Ollivander is widely considered as the best wandmaker in the world. Harry receives his wand at Ollivander’s, and many of the students at Hogwarts receive their first wands through him too. Lesser has starred in projects such as “Game of Thrones,” “A United Kingdom,” and “Andor.”
The Weasley Siblings: Ginny (Gracie Cochrane), Fred (Tristan Harland), George (Gabriel Harland) and Percy (Ruari Spooner)
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO / Everett Collection Original Actors: Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps and Chris Rankin
The group of siblings will be played by Gracie Cochrane as Ginny, twins Tristan and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George and Ruari Spooner as Percy. Despite being a pure-blood family, the Weasley clan advocated for equality among all supernatural beings, including Muggles and Muggle-borns. They made their home a safe space for Harry, who didn’t fit the pure-blood mold for a traditional wizard.
Filius Flitwick (Warwick Davis)
Warwick Davis is the first actor from the original “Harry Potter” films to return for the series. He will reprise his role as Filius Flitwick, the charms professor at Hogwarts. Davis played Flitwick in all eight “Potter” films and he also played goblin banker Griphook in select installments. He is only reprising his role as the former, though, as Leigh Gill takes up the mantel as Griphook in the series.
Pomona Sprout (Sirine Saba)
Sirine Saba will play Herbology Professor Pomona Sprout in the series. The intelligent, helpful, plant-loving teacher was previously played by Miriam Margolyes in the films. Saba is a Royal Academy of Dramatic Art-trained actor who has previously appeared on-camera as a guest star in episodes of “Doctor Who,” “Midsommar Murders” and “Beyond Paradise.”
Poppy Pomfrey (Bríd Brennan)
Bríd Brennan will play Madam Pomfrey, Hogwarts’ longtime matron healer. The keeper of the school’s hospital wing, Pomfrey is a great help to the students whenever they encounter injuries— which is quite often for Harry and his friends. Gemma Jones played Pomfrey in the films, though she only appeared on-screen in three of the eight movies. Brennan is a Tony Award winning actress, known for her stage performances in “”Dancing at Lughnasa,” “Rutherford and Son,” “The Little Foxes” and “The Ferryman.”
Dean Thomas (Elijah Oshin)
Elijah Oshin will play Dean Thomas, the fellow Gryffindor who starts at Hogwarts with Harry. After losing his pureblood father as a child, Dean grew up with his Muggle mother. However, since he could never prove his magical blood, he goes on the run to avoid arrest when Voldemort takes over the Ministry of Magic in the seventh book. Alfred Enoch played Thomas in the movies, though most of his backstory was glossed over. He did, however, have a strong social presence at Hogwarts, becoming a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and dating Ginny Weasley before her relationship with Harry blossomed.
Vincent Crabbe (Finn Stephens)
Finn Stephens will play Vincent Crabbe: one half of Draco Malfoy’s oafish yet loyal cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. The son of a Death Eater, Crabbe is in Slytherin and highly prejudiced against Muggles. He is rarely seen without Malfoy, and hardly ever caught without Goyle. Jamie Waylett played Crabbe in the first six “Potter” films, but the actor was arrested before the final two and the character was replaced by fellow Slytherin Blaise Zabini (Louis Cordice).
Gregory Goyle (William Nash)
The other half of Crabbe and Goyle, Gregory Goyle will be played by William Nash in the series. Like Crabbe, Goyle is the son of a Death Eater and a member of Slytherin house. Also like Crabbe, he is stocky, dimwitted, and obedient to Malfoy. Josh Herdman played the character in all of the “Harry Potter” movies.
Cuthbert Binns (Richard Durden)
Richard Durden will play Hogwarts’ only ghost faculty member: Professor Cuthbert Binns. According to the books, Binns taught at Hogwarts in the 19th Century, died in his sleep while napping in his office, and simply never left. He teaches History of Magic and has a reputation as a boring teacher. Binns was omitted from the original “Harry Potter” films, so Durden will provide the character’s on-screen debut. Durden is a British actor who has appeared in a variety of film and television projects, most recently guest starring in CBS’s “Ghosts” and BBC’s “Silent Witness” and playing a First Order Officer in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
Griphook (Leigh Gill)
Though Warwick Davis is returning to the Wizarding World as Professor Flitwick, he’s handing off the role of Griphook to Leigh Gill. A goblin banker at Gringotts, Griphook is a shrewd and somewhat mysterious being who plays a pivotal role in the final book. Gill is most recognized for playing Gary in “Joker” and “Joker: Folie à Deux,” but he also played Bobono in “Game of Thrones” and even depicted a Wizarding World Goblin once before in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
