I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the 2020s are the era of reboots and revamps. So, naturally, it’s no surprise that Harry Potter, one of the biggest franchises of the modern age, is already copping a reboot as a television series. Now, after a considerable amount of hesitation, worry and chatter, the cast of the upcoming series has finally been announced.
The upcoming Harry Potter series was first announced by HBO Max in April 2023, revealing that each season of the show will focus on a different book from the series.
Yep, that means that we’ll be seeing new casting for beloved characters from the books and the films.
Did we need this reboot?
In short, absolutely not. Will people watch it in spite of J.K. Rowling‘s rampant transphobia forever tainting the beloved series?
HBO Max is banking on it.
Who has been cast in the Harry Potter TV series so far?
Harry Potter: Dominic McLaughlin
After a huge open casting call which auditioned more than 32,000 kids, the coveted role of Harry Potter has gone to Dominic McLaughlin.
Dominic is an 11-year-old Scottish actor who has appeared in two other series, Gifted and Grow. He is the same age as Daniel Radcliffe was when he took on the role of Harry.
Ronald Weasley: Alastair Stout
The role of Harry Potter’s ginger bestie, Ron Weasley, will be played by 11-year-old Alastair Stout. While Alastair doesn’t have too many film or television credits to his name, there’s something about him that has Ron’s signature mischievous energy.
Hermione Granger: Arabella Stanton
Messy-haired, lovable know-it-all Hermione Granger will be played by Arabella Stanton. Arabella is 11 years old, but this is hardly her first big role.
Previously, Arabella starred as Matilda in London’s West End production of the beloved musical from 2023 to 2024.
Albus Dumbledore: John Lithgow
The coveted role of Albus Dumbledore will be played by John Lithgow. Dumbledore has previously been portrayed by Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Jude Law and Toby Regbo.
Speaking to ScreenRant, Lithgow, 79, expressed his excitement and surprise to be taking on the iconic role, especially at his age.
“I just got the phone call up 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,” he said.
“Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
Minerva McGonagall: Janet McTeer
Cat-loving Minerva McGonagall will be portrayed by Janet McTeer. You might recognise Janet from her work in Ozark, Kaos and the 2022 film The Menu.
Severus Snape: Paapa Essiedu
Severus Snape will be played by Paapa Essiedu. Paapa has appeared in series such as I May Destroy You, The Lazarus Project and Gangs of London.
Following his casting in the project, Essiedu caused a stir when he signed an open letter along with 1,500 figures from the television and film industry condemning the UK Supreme Court ruling, which defined the terms “sex” and “women” to only refer to biological women.
Essiedue’s views clash with Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling — a self-proclaimed trans-exclusionary radical feminist who bankrolled the landmark ruling. Despite being an executive producer on the upcoming HBO adaptation, Rowling took to X (formerly Twitter) with a statement about Essiedu’s involvement in the letter.
“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did,” she wrote.
“I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
Rubeus Hagrid: Nick Frost
Beloved groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid will be played by Nick Frost. The Hot Fuzz actor has already shared a tribute on Instagram to the late Robbie Coltrane, who played the OG Hagrid.
“Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid,” he wrote.
“Robbie, I promise I won’t let you down.”
Quirinus Quirrell: Luke Thallon
The role of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher turned baddie, Quirinus Quirrell, will be played by Luke Thallon. Luke is a 29-year-old who is very well known in the theatre scene.
He’s not a huge fan of social media either, which is why you might not come across him on IG.
Argus Filch: Paul Whitehouse
The grumpy yet iconic caretaker of Hogwarts, Argus Filch, will be portrayed by Paul Whitehouse. Paul, 67, is a Welsh actor and comedian. He’s best known for his role in the sketch comedy series The Fast Show.
Interestingly, it’s not the first time Paul has appeared in the Harry Potter universe. He once played Sir Cadogan, a character in one of the living portraits in The Prisoner of Azkaban.
Draco Malfoy: Lox Pratt
The role of Syltherin menace Draco Malfoy will be played by Lox Pratt. He may be young, but Lox is already the star of the BBC series Lord Of The Flies.
Taking to Instagram, the youngster shared a picture of the latest cast announcement along with a thankful message.
“Slytherin all the way! I’m totally thrilled to be able to share the news that I’ll be playing Draco Malfoy in the new HBO series of Harry Potter,” he wrote.
“Huge thanks to Lucy Bevan Casting and all the team for believing in me.”
Lucius Malfoy: Johnny Flynn
The role of Lucius Malfoy will be taken by British actor and musician Johnny Flynn. Flynn, 42, is best known for his role as Dylan Witter on the beloved sitcom Lovesick.
He also received acclaim for his portrayal of David Bowie in the 2020 biographical film Stardust.
Interestingly, Flynn has starred alongside Jason Isaacs — who played Lucius Malfoy in the original Harry Potter films — in the 2021 film Operation Mincemeat.
Once Flynn’s role was announced, Isaacs left him a sweet message on Instagram.
Jason Isaacs left a video message for Johnny Flynn following the announcement of his casting as Lucius Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER TV series:
— Wizarding World Direct (@WW_Direct) June 9, 2025
"Enjoy yourself, top tip: watch out for those elves, pointy ears, backstabbing little b*stards" pic.twitter.com/By2d02RwuB
Molly Weasley: Katherine Parkinson
The beloved matriarch of the Weasley family, Molly Weasley, will be played by Katherine Parkinson.
Parkinson is renowned as a comedy powerhouse, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t performed beautifully in serious roles, too.
Over the years, Parkinson has starred in hit British series such as The IT Crowd, Doc Martin and Rivals, just to name a few.
Seamus Finnigan: Leo Earley
The explosion-prone supporting character of Seamus Finnigan will be played by Leo Earley.
This is his first major role — how exciting!
Parvati Patil: Alessia Leoni
The character of Parvati Patil will be played by Alessia Leoni. I wonder if she will be playing Parvati’s twin sister Padma, too?
Lavender Brown: Sienna Moosah
The role of Lavender Brown in the new HBO series will be played by youngster Sienna Moosah.
Lavender Brown has been played by three actors in the initial films. Kathleen Cauley was Lavender in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and then Jennifer Smith in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. However, they did not have a speaking part, and the character was not referred to by name.
Jessie Cave was later cast as Lavender in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when the role became a larger speaking part.
At the time, this sparked controversy as both previous actors were people of colour, with fans accusing the casting director of whitewashing the character rather than casting a Black actor in the role.
Petunia Dursley: Bel Powley
English actor Bel Powley will be playing the role of Aunt Petunia in the HBO Harry Potter series. Over the years, Bel has starred in a huge range of roles and series, including Everything I Know About Love, The Morning Show, and Turn Me On.
Powley is so likeable that I’m curious to see how she will approach the role of Petunia.
Vernon Dursley: Daniel Rigby
The role of Vernon Dursley will be played by British actor and comedian Daniel Rigby. He got his start in the industry as a stand-up comedian before moving into acting. He’s best known for his roles in Black Mirror, Eric & Ernie and Flowers.
The newly cast role of Dudley Dursley is yet to be announced.
Cornelius Fudge: Bertie Carvel
Bertie Carvel will be playing the role of the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Bertie is best known for starring in the crime series Dalgliesh. Carvel is also well known for his theatre work, in which he has won plenty of awards.
Will any OG actors be returning to the series?
Although I’m sure many millennial hearts around the world would feel very full if unproblematic king Daniel Radcliffe appeared in a cameo in the upcoming series, he doesn’t sound too jazzed about the idea. Not because he’s not interested, but because he wants the new cast to make the roles their own.
“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh, and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Daniel explained to ComicBook.com.
“So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”
Conversely, Tom Felton — who played Draco Malfoy in the films — is 100 per cent down to appear in the upcoming series. However, he’s been yapping about hypothetical cameos years before this series was even greenlit.
According to a 2019 chat with the Daily Mail (so, four years before HBO locked this upcoming series down), Tom said he’d love to play Draco’s dad Lucius Malfoy (played by The White Lotus king Jason Isaacs).
“I don’t think Jo [J.K. Rowling] would want her films, her books rather and her films, to be remade anytime soon, but I’m sure in 20 years when they’ve got 4D, scratch-and-sniff cinemas, or whatever, then they’ll want to do it all over again,” he said.
“My hope is that when they do it I’ll be old enough to play Lucius. Give it another 15 years and I’ll come back and play Lucius. I would do it in a heartbeat.”
In some good news for Felton, he has officially reprised his role on the Broadway stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
You hear that? Someone call Tom!!!!!!!!!
Is J.K. Rowling involved in the new Harry Potter series?
Despite her very controversial (and low-key hateful) opinions, J.K. Rowling is involved in the upcoming series. According to Variety, Rowling will be serving as an executive producer.
In case you missed it, Rowling identifies as a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF) and believes that trans people are a threat to women.
Simply put, she’s incredibly transphobic.
When will the HBO Harry Potter series come out?
Currently, we don’t have a release date for the upcoming Harry Potter series. However, it is believed to be hitting streaming services in 2026.
Filming has been confirmed to begin soon in the summer of 2025 in Leavesden, England — the same location as the films.
The post The Harry Potter Reboot Nobody Asked For Has Cast Another 9 Key Roles appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
