HBO confirms casting of Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Hagrid
HBO has announced its first official cast members for the upcoming Harry Potter television series as John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore while Janet McTeer takes on the role of Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu joins as Severus Snape and Nick Frost steps into the shoes of Rubeus Hagrid as filming is scheduled to begin this summer.
The network has confirmed that these four characters will appear as series regulars and will be central to the adaptation’s narrative as production ramps up under the banner of Warner Bros. Television and Brontë Film and TV.
Figure 1: HBO’s new Harry Potter Series confirms casting
Recurring characters and guest roles also revealed
Luke Thallon has joined the cast as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse will appear as Argus Filch as both actors are set for recurring or guest appearances throughout the series which adapts one book per season and aims to explore each storyline in full.
These additions come amid ongoing speculation about the casting of the franchise’s three lead roles which remain unannounced despite global interest and extensive casting efforts from the network and production partners.
Figure 2: Paul Whitehouse set to play Argus Filch
John Lithgow opens up about Dumbledore casting
Lithgow previously shared his decision to join the series earlier this year as he told Screen Rant in February that “It was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” and added, “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter … I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
His remarks confirmed longstanding rumours about his involvement and underscored the scale of the series as HBO prepares to relaunch the beloved franchise for a new generation and bring fresh depth to Rowling’s characters.
Search for Harry, Hermione and Ron continues
HBO has not yet announced casting for Harry Potter, Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley although the network conducted an open casting call in September last year which invited British and Irish children aged nine to eleven as more than 30,000 submissions were received by the casting team and final selections remain pending.
These roles are expected to feature newcomers who will lead the series through its multi-season arc as producers focus on discovering fresh talent for the iconic characters.
Figure 3: Search for Harry, Hermione and Ron is going on
Rumours grow around casting of Voldemort
Variety has reported that Cillian Murphy is slated to play Voldemort although HBO has not confirmed this and no formal statement has been released by the network or Murphy’s representatives as speculation continues around the remaining key characters.
The role of Voldemort remains one of the most anticipated reveals with fan interest growing ahead of production.
Adaptation aims for faithfulness to original books
The series will provide a faithful adaptation of the original Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling who will serve as executive producer alongside Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod with support from David Heyman, Ruth Kenley-Letts and Neil Blair who are all involved in the production.
Each season will cover one book and allow more time to develop characters and explore subplots that were shortened or omitted in the original films.
Executive team shares outlook for the project
Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer Mark Mylod said “We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life” as production begins preparation for the first season.
The production will stream exclusively on Max as Warner Bros. Television leads distribution globally and the project becomes central to the network’s international strategy.
Confirmed cast and career highlights
John Lithgow, who will portray Dumbledore, is known for roles in The Crown, Footloose, and 3rd Rock from the Sun and he recently starred in Conclave and won an Olivier Award for his stage role in Giant.
Paapa Essiedu, playing Snape, earned acclaim for I May Destroy You and also appeared in The Lazarus Project and Gangs of London and will soon star in All My Sons in the West End.
Janet McTeer, cast as McGonagall, appeared in Ozark, Jessica Jones, The Menu, and Wuthering Heights and will next be seen in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
Nick Frost, who plays Hagrid, gained recognition through Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End while also appearing in Into the Badlands and voicing a character in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
Paul Whitehouse, playing Filch, is known for The Fast Show, Harry & Paul, and Gone Fishing and also starred in Only Fools and Horses The Musical.
Luke Thallon, who plays Quirrell, is a theatre actor known for Albion, Patriots, and Leopoldstadt and recently played Hamlet in a Royal Shakespeare Company production.
Figure 4: Confirmed Cast for the upcoming series
Original films to remain available globally
Warner Bros. confirmed that the original eight films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will remain accessible worldwide as part of the franchise’s continued availability across multiple platforms.
These films will continue to serve as a legacy companion to the new series which will build on the global popularity of the Harry Potter universe.
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Books reach global sales milestone
Since 1997, Harry Potter books have sold over 600 million copies globally and have been translated into more than 80 languages and adapted into one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time.
The new series aims to revisit the world of Hogwarts and expand its reach to new audiences while maintaining the core themes and characters that shaped the original stories.
Production timeline and expectations
Filming is scheduled to begin in the coming months and the first season could premiere as early as next year as the production timeline progresses and casting continues for remaining roles.
Further announcements are expected soon as HBO builds anticipation for the next chapter in the Harry Potter franchise and introduces its vision for a new generation of fans.
