Production has now started on the new hotly anticipated Harry Potter TV series with the first picture released of child actor Dominic McLaughlin as Harry himself and further casting announced. Filming of the new HBO TV show is taking place at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in Watford, Hertfordshire.
HBO announced on Monday that further casting has also taken place, with young actor Rory Wilmot playing Harry’s schoolfriend Neville Longbottom and Amos Kitson taking on the role of his cousin Dudley Dursley. Meanwhile, Sherlock actress Louise Brealey is to play Hogwarts Quidditch coach Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Game Of Thrones star Anton Lesser will be wandmaker Garrick Ollivander.
Each season of the show will be a faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter books, from author and executive producer JK Rowling. It follows the popular film adaptations that starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as the protagonists. The series is set to hit TV screens in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max.
HBO has officially revealed the trio of young actors who will lead its much-anticipated Harry Potter television series. Screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout have been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively.
The three children are “newcomers”, according to HBO, while Arabella’s agent says in her acting CV that she is based in London. She has been in musical productions including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express as the narrator Control and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical in the title child prodigy role.
Alastair’s agent has listed him as appearing in Albert Bartlett’s Jersey Royal potato advertising campaign and having a “northern” accent.
Production company SC Films confirmed that Dominic recently filmed the Sky family comedy film Grow, starring Hot Fuzz actor Nick Frost, who has been cast as the friendly groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid.
Francesca Gardiner, who serves as showrunner and executive producer, and director-executive producer Mark Mylod said in a joint statement: “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.”
The HBO Original series, based on the best-selling books by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling, will be another adaptation of the novels. It will stream exclusively on HBO Max, including in upcoming launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK. The original films will remain available to audiences worldwide.
Among the high-profile additions to the cast is US actor John Lithgow, who will portray Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Speaking to the BBC ’s The One Show , the 79-year-old actor said: “(I’m) very excited, very intimidated. I will be following the great Michael Gambon… but I will do my best.” Lithgow, who recently won an Olivier Award for his performance as Roald Dahl in the West End, acknowledged that some fans may be surprised by an American in the iconic role but expressed confidence in his portrayal.
The ensemble cast also includes Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Welsh comedian Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch.
The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will direct multiple episodes and executive produce, alongside J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. Production is set to begin at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in summer 2025.
Other confirmed cast include Paapa Essiedu – the 34-year old theatre star will portray the Professor of Potions, Severus Snape – who was played by Rickman in the original films. Known for Gangs Of London and I Will Destroy You, Essiedu trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He received an Olivier nomination for best actor for his role as Delroy in Death Of England but lost out to Lithgow.
The Londoner recently acted alongside Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, playing Daynin, the boyfriend of Ronan’s character who suffers from addiction. Essiedu has received two Bafta nominations for leading actor, one in 2021 for his role in the BBC drama I May Destroy You and the second in 2024 for the Lazarus Project in which his character, George, finds himself reliving the same events until he is introduced to a top-secret organisation that can rewind time.
The actor and comedian, Nick Frost, 53, is best known for playing the blundering sidekick Pc Danny Butterman in the comedy Hot Fuzz. Frost will now take on the role of Rubeus Hagrid, the friendly groundskeeper in the series who was played by the late Scottish actor, Robbie Coltrane, in the films.
He is also known for playing Ed in Shaun Of The Dead, a 2004 dark comedy which follows a London electronics salesman and his roommate whose lives are disrupted by a zombie apocalypse.
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