Washington DC [US], April 15: HBO has officially confirmed the first set of actors for its upcoming Harry Potter series. The studio revealed the key cast members for the highly anticipated TV adaptation, with veteran actors joining the magical world of Hogwarts, as reported by Variety.
The confirmed cast includes the following series regulars: John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Additionally, Luke Thallon will appear in the recurring role of Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse will portray Argus Filch.
Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner and executive producer, along with Mark Mylod, director and executive producer for several episodes, expressed their excitement over the talented cast members. “We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon, and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell, and Filch,” they said in a statement, as quoted by Variety. “We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”
These actors are the first confirmed cast members for the series, which has already generated massive anticipation. HBO launched an open casting call last fall for the iconic roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, receiving over 30,000 submissions.
Filming for the series is expected to begin this summer. Francesca Gardiner, known for her work on HBO’s Succession and His Dark Materials, will serve as the writer and showrunner, while Mark Mylod, renowned for directing episodes of Game of Thrones and Succession, will helm multiple episodes. Both Gardiner and Mylod bring a wealth of experience and Emmy-winning talent to the project.
Originally slated for HBO Max, the Harry Potter series will now be positioned as an HBO original, aligning with Warner Bros. Discovery’s broader content strategy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.