We’ve known that HBO would be making a new Harry Potter series since April 2023, and as we get closer and closer to the start of filming, we’re starting to get all the details we’ve been waiting for. In April, HBO finally announced some of the actors who have been cast in the Harry Potter reboot, including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, but now another perfect trio from the series has been announced. Yes, we finally have our Hermione Granger, our Ron Weasley, and of course, our Harry Potter. On Tuesday, May 27, HBO confirmed the three new cast members:
- Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
- Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger
- Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley
Fans have been eagerly awaiting to see the young cast, and I think it’s safe to assume everyone’s extremely happy with these choices. All three look fantastic and match the book descriptions perfectly, but Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger might be the most perfect of all. She, of course, has the physical attributes, like the long, “bushy” hair Hermione is known for in the books, but even in the photo released by HBO, she seems to exude the kind of strength and confidence Hermione is known for. I can’t wait to see her come to life!
These three new cast members are also newcomers to the screen — something the executive producers wanted to make a priority — and it feels like a good and important choice for these characters. The thing so many of us felt reading these books and watching these movies as children is that we could relate. Even with all the magic and the spells and the battles, we still felt represented by the characters of Ron, Hermione, and Harry. And that’s something the showrunners really want to keep going in this new HBO series.
“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,” shared executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod.
Who else is in the cast?
On Monday, April 14, HBO confirmed six cast members and who they’ll be playing in the upcoming series:
- Lithgow as Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts
- McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, professor of transfiguration
- Essiedu as Severus Snape, professor of potions and defense against the dark arts
- Nick Frost as Hagrid, who cares for the magical creatures on school grounds
- Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, professor of Muggle Studies and Defense Against the Dark Arts
- Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, a groundskeeper (and Snitch In Chief) at Hogwarts
Mylod has said before that he wants to continue in the tradition of the films by casting “brilliant theater actors in the U.K.,” which he has certainly done with this talent pool. Check out these side-by-sides of the new actors compared with the previous ones we know and love:
What else do we know about the new Harry Potter series?
A fair amount, actually! Mylod and Gardiner have stated they want to dedicate an entire season to each of the seven Harry Potter books, and that they will be sticking to canonically correct ages for the characters, as Scary Mommy previously reported. Their goal is to explore character development even more than the films.
Of course, fans are also curious about author J.K. Rowling’s involvement in the HBO series. In recent years, she has become persona non grata after being vocally anti-trans and essentially dedicating her online presence to espousing transphobic sentiments. However, she still owns all things Harry Potter and will serve as an executive producer on this new series.
A spokesperson sent a statement to Variety that read, “We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve, and acceptance. J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
Do we know yet when the show will be released?
It’s still a little too early for an ~exact~ date. However, the series will begin filming this summer, and HBO Max has confirmed a planned release sometime in 2026.
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