After a six-month global casting process that saw over 30,000 auditions, HBO has announced the three young actors who will lead its upcoming television adaptation of Harry Potter. Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will portray Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley. Filming is set to begin this summer.
“We are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron,” said showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer/director Mark Mylod in a joint statement. “The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.”
The original film series launched the global careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the early 2000s. Now, McLaughlin, Stanton and Stout—relative newcomers—could follow a similar path as the faces of the new series.
The trio will join a star-studded cast that includes veteran actor John Lithgow ("The Crown," "Conclave"), who will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore, stepping into the shoes of the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. Academy Award nominee Janet McTeer (“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” “The White Queen”) has been cast as Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You,” “Gangs of London”) will play Severus Snape, a role made iconic by the late Alan Rickman, while Nick Frost (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”) will portray the beloved half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. Other notable additions include Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse ("The Fast Show") as Argus Filch, the school caretaker.
The new series is being written and executive produced by Gardiner, who also serves as showrunner, with Mylod directing several episodes. J.K. Rowling, the author of the original Harry Potter novels, is also listed as a producer.
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John Lithgow will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore
(Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Rowling, whose views on transgender issues have sparked controversy in recent years, remains a polarizing figure. When asked whether her public stances posed concerns for the series, HBO Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys recently said in a podcast interview: “It’s clear these are her personal and political views. She’s entitled to them. There’s no hidden agenda in Harry Potter. If someone wants to debate her, they can do so on Twitter.”
The series is expected to remain faithful to Rowling’s beloved books and marks one of HBO’s most ambitious projects to date.