Harry Potter: Actors for Harry, Ron and Hermione Have Been Found!
The iconic roles have been cast with newcomers
Finally: HBO has officially announced the main cast of the upcoming "Harry Potter" series. It will be a faithful adaptation of the seven books by J.K. Rowling. As expected, the iconic roles will be played by three up-and-coming talents.
These are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The three were selected from over 32,000 applicants. The casting process began in September 2024 and ran for several months. Shooting of the "Harry Potter" series is scheduled to begin in summer 2025. There is no specific release date yet, but it is expected to start airing on HBO in 2026. Each season will focus on one book in the series, providing more depth and detail than the previous films.
Harry Potter was played by Daniel Radcliffe in the movies. Rupert Grint was seen as Ron, while Emma Watson played Hermione. For "Harry Potter" fans, the main characters are still closely linked to the three actors today.
Cast of the "Harry Potter" series
With the trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione, a total of nine actors have now been officially confirmed. These include central roles such as Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Here is an overview:
Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
Paapa Essiedu will be seen as Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House. The complex character is an absolute fan favorite, both in the books and in the films. Essiedu will have very big shoes to fill, as the role of Severus Snape is associated for many with the legendary Alan Rickman.
Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
Janet McTeer takes on the role of the strict but popular Prof. McGonagall. In the films, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts was played by Maggie Smith. McTeer is known from "Ozark" and "Me Before You", among others.
Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
Luke Thallon plays Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Quirrell is the antagonist of "The Philosopher's Stone". Thallon is considered a newcomer. In the films, the character was played by Ian Hart.
Nick Frost as Hagrid
Nick Frost will portray Hagrid. The British actor is best known for comedies such as "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz". Hagrid is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts and teaches "Care of Magical Creatures". As a close confidant of Harry, Ron and Hermione, he is a central character in the series. In the films, he was played by Robbie Coltrane.
Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
Paul Whitehouse takes on the role of the grumpy janitor Argus Filch. He also comes from the comedy genre. Filch has no magical abilities and is known for his strict attitude towards students. In the films, he was played by David Bradley.
John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
John Lithgow will be seen as Professor Albus Dumbledore. The actor is known from "Dexter" and "The Crown", among others. He was the first confirmed actor in the cast, as he had already announced his casting in interviews. Dumbledore is one of the most powerful wizards in the "Harry Potter" world. In the films, he was portrayed by Richard Harris and later by Michael Gambon.
Behind the scenes
Francesca Gardiner takes over the creative direction of the series as showrunner. She already has experience in the fantasy genre: As a writer, she was involved in the series "His Dark Materials". Director Mark Mylod is also part of the central team. He has already directed episodes of successful HBO series such as "Game of Thrones" and "Succession". J.K. Rowling is involved in the series as a producer.
Where can you watch the "Harry Potter" films?
If you want to start a rewatch now: You can currently find all eight films in the "Harry Potter" series on Max. You can also find the "Fantastic Beasts" movies there.