TV news: HBO reveal confirmed cast members for upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ series
HBO have revealed their first set of castings for their upcoming series based on the infamous Harry Potter film and book series.
Nick Frost, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Paul Whitehouse have been confirmed by the US network, in addition to the announcement that John Lithgow will be involved, as told in February.
With so many big names, both in terms of actors and their characters, it could become hard to keep track of who is playing who so Film News Blitz’s Joe Matthews is here to guide you through it.
Who is playing who?
Writing this as a 21-year-old who grew up just a few years behind that of Harry Potter and co., it is a key concern that the favourite characters from my childhood avoid being completely torn apart in a tasteless adaptation.
However, the newly revealed castings are looking set to impress on stage.
Lithgow, who was recently part of the Conclave project which won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and attracted seven other nominations, is set to play Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Speaking to ScreenRant about taking on the role, he said: “Well, it came as a total surprise to me.
“I just got the phone call whilst at the Sundance Film Festival and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited.
“I’ll be about 87-years-old at the wrap party but I’ve said yes.”
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Nick Frost will play the half-giant groundskeeper Hagrid, for which his witty comedic timing from films such as Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead will certainly come in handy.
Janet McTeer, who has appeared in films such as Wuthering Heights and The Menu, as well as TV shows Ozark and Jessica Jones, has been cast as Professor Minerva McGonagall, and her fellow professor, Severus Snape has been revealed to be played by Paapa Essiedu.
The latter has appeared in shows such as Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project and I May Destroy You, as well as featuring alongside Saoirse Ronan in 2024’s The Outrun.
Argus Filch, the ‘squib’ Caretaker of Hogwarts, is to be played by Paul Whitehouse, who was a major part of the BBC sketch show The Fast Show, and with frequent collaborator and friend Bob Mortimer, is a big hit on British television screens with Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
The final confirmed casting so far goes to stage performer Luke Thallon, who will take on the role of Professor Quirrell.
Thallon is an experienced stage actor, taking on roles in Patriots, Albion, Leopoldstadt, alongside taking on the titular role in a Royal Shakespeare Company Production of Hamlet.
What does this mean for the show?
There has been little detail yet revealed about what the show will entail.
With Professor Quirrell being cast, we can assume that a detailed plot will be explored for each of the films and books.
Author J.K.Rowling will serve as an Executive Producer on the show, which HBO have said will be a “faithful adaptation” of the series we have come to know and love.
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Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer Mark Mylod said they were “delighted to have such extraordinary talent on board”, and that they “can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life”.
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley have not had actors officially confirmed to be in the roles as of yet, but HBO did launch an open casting call for the leads, which reportedly attracted over 30,000 submissions.
With the show set to begin filming this summer, the first series could be airing as early as next year or early 2027.
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