HBO’s Harry Potter TV series has cast its regulars (not those ones)

Harry Potter Cast (from near to right): John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon, and Paul Whitehouse.

After weeks of speculation, Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced the archetypal formed members who volition look successful its upcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation. The casting confirmations, focused astir immoderate of the astir notably big characters from the Harry Potter novels, are 1 of the astir reassuring signs of beingness for the wizarding satellite bid since it was archetypal announced 2 years ago.

Hogwarts’ headmaster Albus Dumbledore volition beryllium portrayed by six-time Emmy grant victor John Lithgow (The Crown, Conclave), joined by Paapa Essiedu (Black Mirror) arsenic Severus Snape, Janet McTeer (The Menu, Kaos) arsenic Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz) arsenic Rubeus Hagrid. WB says that each 4 actors volition service arsenic bid regulars, alongside impermanent appearances by Luke Thallon arsenic Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse arsenic Argus Filch.

These castings won’t travel arsenic a astonishment to immoderate fans — rumors astir the main 4 actor’s engagement successful the bid person been circulating astir connected societal media for weeks, with Lithgow confirming he’s lined up to play Dumbledore to Deadline successful February. Younger characters, including castings for the Harry, Ron, and Hermione main trio, person yet to beryllium announced pursuing Warner Bros. launching an unfastened casting telephone past fall.

“We’re delighted to person specified bonzer endowment onboard, and we can’t hold to spot them bring these beloved characters to caller life,” said showrunners Francesca Gardiner (His Dark Materials) and Mark Mylod (Succession). The ambitious Harry Potter bid is expected to tally for much than a decennary connected some HBO and MAX, with Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav saying past twelvemonth that it should debut sometime successful 2026. 

The TV adaptation “will beryllium a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter publication series,” according to Warner Bros, with writer J.K. Rowling serving arsenic the enforcement producer. The amusement elephantine has enthusiastically pushed projects astir the Harry Potter franchise — including the 2023 Hogwarts Legacy video crippled — with small acknowledgment of Rowling’s progressively arguable behaviour online. The writer has go so synonymous with promoting transphobic rhetoric connected X that adjacent the like-minded Elon Musk has asked her to occasionally speech astir thing else connected the platform.