Potter gold! How young actors announced as the new Harry, Ron and Hermione in TV remake of the wizard series are set to make MILLIONS after original trio turned their backs on JK Rowling... so where HAVE you seen the rising stars before?

Daily Mail​

28-05-2025

The child actors set to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in the new Harry Potter series have at last been announced - after the iconic trio turned their backs on JK Rowling.
Following the incredible success of the original eight Potter films, fans had long been calling for the spellbinding franchise to make a return.
They at last got their wish with the announcement that Hogwarts would be back on our screens in a JK Rowling produced HBO series aiming to 'lead a new generation of fandom'.
But hopes of Radcliffe, Watson and Grint reuniting were all but crushed after their very public feud with Rowling.
The actors 'turned their backs' on the author who made them their riches - Radcliffe a reported £85 million, Watson a whopping £62 million and Grint £37 million - following a row over trans rights in 2020.
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The trio spoke out publicly against the author after she stated her belief that women are defined by their biological sex and not their gender identity.
Rowling later insisted she would never forgive the Harry Potter stars, with the 59-year-old again taking aim at them just last month.
Replying to a tweet asking: 'What actor/ actress instantly ruins a movie for you?', Rowling wrote: 'Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.'
But while cast members of the films have publicly criticised the books' author, HBO have backed Rowling saying she has a 'right to express her personal views'.
So after catapulting Radcliffe, Watson and Grint to stardom almost 25 years ago with the first Potter film, who exactly are Rowling's chosen ones this time around?
Directors trawled through more than 32,000 audition tapes before deciding on the lucky three - Dominic Laughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stour as Ron Weasley.
With every single episode of the much-anticipated production expected to cost a staggering £75 million, landing a lead role in the series has been described as like 'winning the lottery'.
Brand expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: 'From a child actor's point of view to be cast in Harry Potter it is completely like winning the jackpot. It's going to completely change their lives.
'Daniel Radcliffe was paid £1 million for his first film and that went up to £50 million for the last two. It's not just the financial gain but the global fame will also bring endorsements and deals for them.
'It's the best start to an acting career they could ever want, I can only see it going up for them. But it is a lot of pressure to be cast in such a big show, I mean they're going to be superstars globally.
'I can imagine them at least being paid £1 million per series to begin with and then you could even see them commanding £10 to £20 million each by the end of the seventh season - or even more.'
Arabella Stanton - Hermione Granger
Cast as the much-loved character of Hermione Granger is Arabella Stanton, who goes by Bella.
Following in the footsteps of Watson, who first played Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when she was just 11, the British actress is believed to be between nine and 11 years old.
But she's already featured both on television and in theatre after studying at some of the country's most well respected acting schools.
Bella began began honing her skills at Aldance, a studio in Bracknell offering dancing classes for children from 18 months through to adults.
She too trained at the prestigious British Theatre Academy and the Guildford School of Acting, which has produced stars such as Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Chris Geere.
She landed her first role in 2023 when she was cast as star character Matilda in the West End production Matilda The Musical.
Making her West End debut, Bella, who was the production's youngest cast member, performed in the show for around a six month period beginning in September 2023 and even featured on BBC's The One Show for World Book Day as Matilda.
After impressing on stage, Arabella bagged the part of Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2024 London revival of Starlight Express.
Away from the spotlight, she enjoys 'playing hockey for her local club, skiing and horse riding. She loves competing in swimming galas and triathlons and she also plays the clarinet.'
Hermione however will undoubtedly be Bella's biggest part yet and following in the footsteps of Emma Watson, she certainly has big boots to fill.
Dominic McLaughlin - Harry Potter
Playing the main character in the upcoming HBO remake of JK Rowling's iconic series is Dominic McLaughlin, a young Scottish actor with experience in film and theatre.
Having beaten off tens of thousands of children during auditions, Harry Potter lovers will no doubt be chomping at the bit to see what Dominic has to offer.
And the young actor boasts an impressive CV, having appeared in a production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth where he featured alongside Luther actress Indira Varma.
Noticeably, the Scot even has prior experience of playing a wizard after starring as Oliver Gregory in the 2024 film Grow.
Dominic is also believed to have been lined up for a role in an upcoming BBC adventure series titled Gifted after beating more than 3,000 budding Scottish children to the part.
His 'magical' casting as Harry Potter has left those back home in Dominic's native Scotland incredibly proud, with his old acting school taking to Facebook to express their pride on Wednesday,
The Performance Academy Scotland posted: 'The news is out and this one is MAGICAL!!
'Our amazing young performer has been cast as Harry Potter in the upcoming HBO series. We are not sure this will ever feel real but we said from the start that Dominic was the perfect Harry and we are thrilled for everyone else to see this soon too.
'Dominic, we will forever be proud of you! We have had an incredible journey with you these last five years at TPA and can't wait for what's next on this journey!
'We are extremely proud to represent you and can't wait to go on this Wizarding journey together.
'A massive congratulations to Dominic…our Harry Potter.'
Alastair Stout - Ron Weasley
Keeping Ron Weasley ginger after Rupert Grint bagged the role when he was just 12 is Alastair Stout.
The actor, believed to be from the north of England, is perhaps the least experienced of the three children cast to star in the new series.
His only role to date was in the new advert for Albert Bartlett's Jersey Royal potatoes, in which he played a small part.
Despite his lack of experience nevertheless, Alastair - and his two co-stars - offer a talent which is 'wonderful to behold', according to the show's producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod.
'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron,' they said.
'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 three child actors will be joined in the series by a host of other newbies after stars from the original such as Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Dame Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman passed away.
Emmy, Olivier, and BAFTA nominee Paapa Essiedu is set to play Severus Snape, who was portrayed by Alan Rickman in the films.
The late Alan Rickman notably portrayed the role of the potions professor throughout Warner Bros.' Harry Potter film franchise from 2001 through 2011.
However, when rumours first swirled of Paapa securing the role it prompted some to share their thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter).
One penned, 'I'm sorry but there is only one man who can be Professor Snape. Shame on HBO for going near this. It's just going to ruin something that should be left well alone.'
Another typed, 'Paapa Essiedu shouldn't take this role for his own benefit. He could be the best actor in the world but he doesn't fit the characteristics of Snape from the book.'
'I don't understand the push to change everything from the original context,' they added.
Another wrote, 'Paapa Essiedu is being eyed for the role of Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming 'Harry Potter' TV series. Another classic that goes woke.'
The character, played by Michael Gambon in the final six of eight Harry Potter films, is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts and a mentor to the title character
While when John Lithgow was cast as Albus Dumbledore, some fans were not happy about the casting of an American actor to play the British character, particularly given JK Rowling's insistance that the cast of the original films be British.
Taking to X, fans wrote: 'I can't understand why John Lithgow is the new Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter HBO series. Dumbledore is British, Lithgow is from the USA.'
'Nothing against John Lithgow, but Dumbledore and the whole Harry Potter franchise is British.'
The young trio will join A-listers John Lithgow, 79, as Albus Dumbledore, Paul Whitehouse, 67, as Argus Filch, and Nick Frost, 53, as Rubeus Hagrid as they film at Warner Bros's 200-acre studio in Leavesden Herts.