Scottish boy cast as Harry Potter in new brand new HBO series
His drama school described him as a 'perfect Harry'
MAGIC NEWS Scottish boy cast as Harry Potter in new brand new HBO series
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A SCOTTISH youngster has been chosen to play Harry Potter in HBO's TV adaptation of the famous book series.
Producers have cast screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin in the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
3
They will succeed the beloved trio from the original films
Credit: Alamy
3
Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout have been cast
Credit: AP
3
John Lithgow will be playing Albus Dumbledore
Credit: Getty
Showrunner Franscesca Gardiner and lead director Mark Mylod said: "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.
"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."
Reacting to the news on Facebook, drama school The Performance Academy Scotland wrote: "The news is out and this one is MAGICAL!
"Our amazing young performer has been cast as Harry Potter in the new upcoming HBO TV series.
"We are not sure that 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.
"See you at Hogwarts."
Harry Potter star Rupert Grint pictured with adorable newborn baby after secretly becoming dad for a second time
The three new young stars join a talented cast including John Lithgow as Professor Albus Dumbledore.
As well as this, further cast members were announced to fans last month.
These include series regulars Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Nick Frost as Hagrid and Paapa Essiedu as Snape.
Rounding out that announcement were Luke Thallon as Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Filch.
The show is described as a "faithful adaptation" of the beloved books by author and executive producer JK Rowling.
The Sun revealed how HBO's series will be filmed in a £1billion mini town - including a school and medical centre.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
English Riviera Airshow returns to Paignton at the weekend
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in Torbay at the weekend as the English Riviera Airshow three-day event, on the seafront at Paignton Green between Friday 30 May and Sunday 1 June, was to feature flying displays, fireworks, live music and entertainment, organisers said. Some of the UK's most iconic aircraft were due to take to the skies, including the RAF's Red Arrows, who were due to open the show, they added. Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were to carry out extra patrols, and also warned the public to expect heavy traffic and road closures. What's on and when? The airshow, set against the backdrop of the Torbay coastline, has been held annually since 2016 and is the first event in the UK's airshow calendar. It is set to include performances from the RAF Red Arrows, the RAF Typhoon and British Army's Red Devils Parachute Display Team. Organisers said the event had been growing year-on-year, with a special opening night on Friday for the first time in its history. Here is the planned line-up of what spectators can 30 May - Opening night 18:00-22:00: Spitfire flypast at duskThe Fireflies pyrotechnic displayLive music headlined by The Funk City BandFireworks display at 22:00 Saturday 31 May - Flying will take place between:14:00 and 16:0016:30 and 18:00RAF Red Arrows to close the showSunday 1 June - Flying is scheduled between: 12:00 and 13:1513:50 and 14:5515:20 and 16:15Flying times were subject to change, said organisers. Meanwhile, visitors could enjoy live music, entertainment and a wide range of food and drink stalls at the event village on the green throughout the weekend. Road closures Organisers said road closures and safety measures would be in place between 11:00 BST and 19:00 on Saturday and Sunday, limiting vehicle access around Paignton seafront. Police and Torbay Council have advised visitors to use public transport, walk or cycle. Drivers should allow extra time for their journey, they and Cornwall Police said: "If you need to talk to us about something, or just want to meet your local officers, then please come up and say hello - that's what we are here for."Details of road closures and diversions are on the Torbay Council website. The airshow is free to attend and funded by various partners, including Torbay Council, the English Riviera BID Company, several corporate sponsors and individual donors.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Downtown Abbey star unrecognisable with hairy new look in huge Netflix thriller
After embodying dandy Anthony Armstrong -Jones in The Crown and the polished Henry Talbot in Downton Abbey, Matthew Goode is diving into murkier waters for Netflix. Matthew Goode is swapping palaces for police files in Netflix's gripping new eight-part series adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling crime novels. Known for his polished turns in Downton Abbey and The Crown, Matthew Goode delves into darker territory as DCI Carl Morck, complete with a scruffy demeanour and full beard. Carl is complex – a brilliant but broken detective with a chip on each shoulder. 'He's so aggressive and rude,' says Matthew, 47. 'I loved his sense of humour. He's a complex character, and you get to see him warts and all.' We meet Carl at rock bottom: a horrific incident has left his partner on the force paralysed, another policeman dead and Carl drowning in guilt. Stripped of his spark and barely functioning, he's sidelined into investigating cold cases in the newly created Dept. Q. His first case focuses on the disappearance of ambitious prosecutor Merritt Lingard. As the mystery unravels, Carl's own mind starts to fracture. Chloe Pirrie plays Merritt, a woman whose ambition hides deep trauma. The actress is no stranger to intense roles, with credits including The Queen's Gambit, An Inspector Calls and Black Mirror. Here, Chloe reunites with the show's writer and director Scott Frank, who directed her as troubled Alice Harmon in The Queen's Gambit . 'Merritt's main strength is she doesn't feel the need to please people,' Chloe, 37, says. 'She's loyal, someone you'd want on your side, but she's also isolated herself. She uses people and doesn't think that highly of them. She's similar to Carl in that way.' Carl is reluctantly paired with rookie assistant Akram Salim, played by Swedish actor Alexej Manvelov. Where Carl is chaotic, Akram is calm – a war-zone survivor with a quiet intensity and a moral compass that's often tested. 'Akram's a bit of an underdog,' says Alexej, 43. 'He's very mysterious. He's from a war zone, so he's seen evil at work.' On-screen, Carl pushes Akram into grey areas, but behind the scenes, Alexej and Matthew hit it off instantly. 'I was sure I was going to be fired during my first week,' Alexej says. 'Then Matthew walked up to me at the make-up trailer and gave me the biggest hug. From that moment, we were friends.' Although the original novels are set in Denmark, the TV series has been relocated to Edinburgh and the surrounding area. 'Our cast is all Scottish, except for Matthew and Alexej,' Scott reveals. The move made a big impression on Alexej, who had never been to the Scottish capital before. 'Walking around the city feels like a fairy tale,' he says, 'One morning, I was being driven to set and I saw this beautiful castle. I asked my driver what the building was. He said it was a school!' Matthew, Alexej and Chloe are backed by an all-star ensemble that includes Game Of Thrones ' Kate Dickie, Kelly Macdonald, Mark Bonnar, Shirley Henderson and Jamie Sives. But even with support from a heavyweight cast, the role took its toll on Matthew. 'This job really affected me, that's never happened before,' he reveals. 'I used to blanch when I heard actors saying they couldn't shake a role. Then it happened to me.' Chloe echoes the sentiment, particularly after filming Merritt's most harrowing scenes. 'Intellectually, you know it's not real, but your body doesn't,' she explains. 'When you're that tired and the job is long, you have to surrender to it. That's what happened to me. I made sure I gave myself space to recover afterwards.' Strangely, some of Merritt's darkest scenes became a source of comfort. 'The set design was incredible, very immersive,' Chloe says, 'Those scenes were weirdly comforting. There's a freedom that comes from surrendering to the horrific situation Merritt finds herself in.' Visually, the show blends Nordic noir with rain- slicked Gothic grit. But despite the dark tone, the series has plenty of humour thanks to Carl's razor-sharp sarcasm and deadpan one-liners. That's especially the case when he's at home, where he's raising his teen stepson Jasper, who has been left behind by his mother, Carl's Scottish ex-wife. The pair clash, with Carl complaining about Jasper's loud music and threatening to throw away all his belongings. But the scene was amusing for Matthew, who has three children with his wife Sophie Dymoke. 'As a parent, I didn't see the issue,' he jokes. 'That's just good parenting!' Matthew was hooked on the character from the moment his agent sent him the script. 'Scott could have cast anybody,' Matthew says. 'When someone trusts you like that, you take it seriously. There was pressure but, as Billie Jean King said, 'Pressure is a privilege.'' Matthew didn't read the books when he accepted the part. Instead, he threw himself into the role – sometimes literally. One scene required him to drive an old Ford Sierra with dodgy brakes. 'Every time Scott told me to drive fast, I'd be thinking, 'I hope it stops and I don't plough into anyone,'' says Matthew. 'Occasionally, I'd turn the car off and walk away, then I'd hear it start again and have to give it a kick.' It sounds like viewers should prepare to buckle up for a wild ride – especially if Matthew's driving!
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Meghan Markle shares 'guilt' over money and admits she 'will never have enough'
Meghan Markle has opened up about her feelings on money, admitting that she struggles to adopt a mindset where she can believe in the 'promise of something more for herself' As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, continues to embrace her entrepreneurial journey, the proud mother-of-two has been candid about her experiences in the public eye. From offering a peek into her daily diet on her Netflix show, to sharing heartwarming glimpses of her home life on social media, Meghan has given fans an insight into what it's like to live as a member of the Royal family - even discussing more sensitive topics such as finance. Despite being a successful actress in her own right and married to a Prince, Meghan is far from living hand-to-mouth. However, that doesn't mean she hasn't faced challenges, particularly when striving for financial independence. In the season finale of her podcast 'Confessions of a Female Founder', Meghan had a conversation with Sara Blakely, the billionaire founder of shapewear brand Spanx. During their chat, 54 year old Blakely urged listeners to become more "self aware" and scrutinise their attitudes towards money, reports the Express. "A lot of people don't even realise they have not great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves," she noted, adding that she wanted to be able to invest in herself. The Duchess of Sussex, aged 43, expressed her views on financial independence, stating: "But that is so hard to understand because, I genuinely believe, I would love to adopt that level of a mindset where as you're talking about even, for a lot of people, not being able to buy into the hope or the promise of something more for themselves in financial freedom." Meghan went on to discuss the societal pressures women face regarding money: "I think so many women, especially, we're taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot," she added. "And at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset that it's easy to attach to, of like, 'I'll never have enough.' ". Sara shared her own philosophy with Meghan: "I always tell women, in particular, I say: 'Money is really fun to make, really fun to spend and really fun to give away.' I think money makes you more of who you already were." Despite her considerable wealth, Meghan's insights on finance may surprise some admirers, particularly considering her transformation since marrying Prince Harry in 2019. Before her Royal nuptials, Meghan was estimated to be worth around £3.7million, thanks largely to her acting career, including her role in the first seven series of the TV show Suits. However, following their decision to step back from Royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry announced their intention to "work to become financially independent," seeking greater autonomy over their lives, a journey not without its challenges. During a candid conversation with Oprah Winfrey one year following their relocation to the US, Prince Harry disclosed that he had been "literally cut me off financially" by the Royal family after they stepped back from Royal duties, expressing gratitude for the inheritance from his late mother Princess Diana, which made their move possible. "Without that, we wouldn't have been able to do this," he remarked, alluding to their 2020 shift to Montecito, California. Since their transatlantic switch, both the Duke and Duchess have inked profitable contracts with Netflix and Spotify alongside unveiling an explosive memoir, although Harry confessed the commercial ventures weren't initially in their blueprint. "From my perspective, all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe," he shared with Winfrey.
