Max’s (and HBO’s) new Harry Potter television series, originally revealed back in 2023, has officially announced several cast members for some of the most crucial roles in the franchise. The show is intended to be a faithful adaptation of the original novels by J.K. Rowling. Despite the controversy surrounding the author, the TV series has garnered quite a bit of hype, as fans have been itching for more information about what to expect from the nostalgic show.
Harry Potter Cast Differs Greatly From Movies
The Harry Potter franchise has rumored some of the cast members for a while now, and on Monday, April 14, Max officially confirmed 6 of the regular stars. Among the new actors are four previous rumors: John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Also joining the cast are Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.
Of those six actors and actresses, Whitehouse is the only one who has appeared in any of the previous Harry Potter film entries, and even he was in a minor role as Sir Cadogan. This means that, so far, the TV series is planning to branch off from the movie series and offer a brand new cast. This makes sense in many ways, given that a lot of the original actors and actresses are either much older now, have medical challenges, or have even passed away. Nevertheless, it will be jarring for long-term fans to conceptualize the new cast visually.
According to Deadline, “The Harry Potter series comes from writer/showrunner Francesca Gardiner, an executive producer alongside Mark Mylod, who will direct multiple episodes for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television.” It has previously been announced that the episodes will represent the entire book series but take place over 10 years. It is unclear how much focus will be on each novel, although it has been confirmed that the series prequel Fantastic Beasts will not be an active part of the show.
Showrunners Release Joint Statement
Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod released a statement today regarding the casting thus far. “We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.” The casting is not complete, as there are still many more essential roles that have not been filled. Among these include Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermoine Granger, and many of the other professors and recurring characters. The young “wizards” are expected to be between ages 9 and 11 at the time of casting.
The show is set to begin production and filming at some point this summer at Leavesden Studios near London. This is the same place where the movies were filmed as well. The cast announced thus far is star-studded, with a slew of awards between them, including multiple Emmys, BAFTA awards, Tony Awards, Olivier Awards, and even Golden Globe awards. If this is any indication, expect continued household names to be announced in the future.
As casting concludes and production begins, fans should expect to hear more from Max and show producers about what to expect. Until then, fans will have to settle for the hype around the loaded cast while they prepare for their favorite cast members to be portrayed in new and exciting ways.
