HBO has officially cast young actors Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout to embody Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley respectively, in its upcoming television series based on J.K. Rowling's beloved books. The casting announcement follows an open audition call last year, attracting an overwhelming response from aspiring talent.
Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod expressed great enthusiasm, stating, "the talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen." Joining the trio will be veteran actor John Lithgow, who will play the iconic Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, alongside notable professors portrayed by Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.
Additionally, Nick Frost is set to portray the beloved groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, while Luke Thallon will take on the role of Professor Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse will play Argus Filch, the school's caretaker. The production is anticipated to further announce additional casting in the near future.
The young leads are not widely known yet; McLaughlin recently starred in the Sky comedy "Grow," while Stanton played the title role in "Matilda: The Musical" at the West End. Rowling is set to serve as an executive producer for the series, which promises a faithful adaptation of her work, contrasting with the film series.
With an ambitious plan to span at least a decade, the show aims to delve deeper into the book's narratives compared to the time-constrained films. Production is slated to commence at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK during the summer, with the series potentially airing on HBO Max as early as 2026.
