Accio Harry Potter fans! The magical world is about to get a whole lot bigger on the small screen with the upcoming Harry Potter TV series on HBO Max . Everyone's buzzing about this reboot and the biggest question swirling around the castle right now is: who will be cast as our beloved witches and wizards? And hey are there any chances we'll see some familiar faces from the movies pop up?
Fresh Faces Only: HBO Execs Say New Actors Will Bring Hogwarts to Life for the Next Decade
If you were hoping for Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson or Rupert Grint to dust off their robes think again for the main trio anyway. HBO exec Sarah Aubrey has pretty much confirmed they are going for a completely fresh start. That means brand new actors will be stepping into the shoes of Harry Ron and Hermione. They are looking for kids aged 9 to 11 to take on these iconic roles for what is planned to be a ten-year run. Talk about a long-term gig!
Aubrey mentioned that casting is a "dream job for a lot of actors in the U.K." but also emphasized the huge commitment involved. They want actors ready to dedicate a decade to Hogwarts. The casting call itself is even highlighting "inclusive diverse casting" which means they are open to a wide range of actors for every role. While we won't see the original trio HBO is hinting that "interesting people" might raise their hands for adult roles later on like Sirius Black. Intriguing!
Rumor Mill is Turning: Which Actors Are Being Considered for Hogwarts Professors?
While the search is on for the young stars the rumor mill is spinning about who might play the Hogwarts professors. Some big names have been mentioned for roles like McGonagall Snape Hagrid and Dumbledore. Think Sharon Horgan Paapa Essiedu Brett Goldstein and Mark Strong. Janet McTeer is also reportedly in talks for Professor McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu is supposedly close to signing on as Snape. And guess what? John Lithgow himself confirmed he'll be Dumbledore! Yes that John Lithgow! It looks like they are aiming for some seriously talented actors to fill these crucial roles.
Behind the Scenes Magic: Meet the Creative Team Bringing Harry Potter to TV
It is not just about the actors though. The creative team behind the Harry Potter TV series is shaping up to be pretty impressive. Francesca Gardiner known for her work on Succession is the showrunner and writer. Mark Mylod also from Succession is set to direct multiple episodes and executive produce. Killing Eve scribe Laura Neal has joined the writer's room too. They are bringing in some top-tier talent from acclaimed shows to handle this magical world. Even costume designer Holly Waddington who recently won an Oscar for Poor Things is on board to create the look of the series. And Framestore the VFX company that worked on the original movies is in talks to handle the visual magic again. They are pulling out all the stops to make this reboot something special.
Why No Original Cast Return? HBO Thinks Fresh Faces Will Help Fans Dive Deeper into the Story
So why are they avoiding bringing back the original movie stars for major roles? HBO's Sarah Aubrey explained it is about letting the new show stand on its own two feet. She mentioned it would be "nerve-wracking" to repeat actors because people so strongly associate those roles with Daniel Radcliffe and the gang. They want audiences to immerse themselves in these new performances and see these characters in a fresh light. With each season potentially having eight hours to tell the story they want viewers to really get lost in this new version of Hogwarts and that might be harder to do with familiar faces popping up in different roles.
Will Any Original Stars Appear at All? Never Say Never (But Don't Hold Your Breath)
Could we see any of the original movie cast in cameos or smaller roles down the line? Well "never say never" is the motto in Hollywood. Gary Oldman who played Sirius Black has said he would be open to returning maybe even as Dumbledore. Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) joked about wanting to come back as Hermione Granger. But realistically it sounds like HBO is aiming for a completely clean slate for the main characters. Daniel Radcliffe himself seems to agree saying it is a "very wise" decision to have a "clean break" and he is excited to watch the show as just an audience member. So while a surprise cameo down the line is always a tiny possibility do not expect any of the original trio or main cast to be regular fixtures in the new series.
Hogwarts in 2026 (or 2027): Release Timeline and What to Expect
Mark your calendars and get your wands ready but you will have to wait a bit longer to return to Hogwarts. Production is set to start in summer 2025 at Leavesden Studios the same place where the original movies were filmed. HBO is aiming for a release sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. Patience Padawans! They are planning a ten-year run with each season likely dedicated to one of J.K. Rowling's seven books. Rowling herself is on board as an executive producer and has creative control so expect the series to be a faithful adaptation of the books maybe even with more detail than the movies could fit in. HBO is investing big in this project aiming for a scale similar to House of the Dragon so expect some serious magical production value.
Harry Potter TV Series: Confirmed & Rumored Cast and Crew
- Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer: Francesca Gardiner (Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve)
- Director/Executive Producer: Mark Mylod (Succession)
- Writer: Laura Neal (Killing Eve)
- Costume Designer: Holly Waddington (Poor Things)
- Rumored for Professor McGonagall: Janet McTeer (In Negotiations) or Sharon Horgan (Rumored)
- Rumored for Severus Snape: Paapa Essiedu (Closing Deal) or Brett Goldstein (Rumored)
- Confirmed for Albus Dumbledore: John Lithgow (Confirmed) or Mark Strong (Rumored)
- Rumored for Rubeus Hagrid: Brett Goldstein (Rumored) or Mark Strong (Rumored)
- Visual Effects: Framestore (In Talks)
A New Chapter for the Wizarding World: Get Ready for a Fresh Take on Harry Potter
So there you have it the latest scoop on the Harry Potter TV series casting and creative team. It sounds like HBO is aiming to create something both familiar and fresh a faithful adaptation with its own unique identity. While we may not see Daniel Radcliffe and co. back in the lead roles get ready to welcome a new generation of actors to Hogwarts. With a talented team behind the scenes and a ten-year plan in place the Harry Potter TV series is shaping up to be a magical journey all its own. Are you excited for a new era of Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments!