‘Harry Potter' First Look: The New Boy Wizard Debuts as HBO Series Begins Filming, Sets 2027 Release Date
HBO's 'Harry Potter' TV series — the long-awaited and much-hyped return to J.K. Rowling's wizarding world — has officially started production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K., almost 14 years to the day that 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' concluded Harry's journey on the big screen.
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The show has also revealed a first look at Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, smiling in costume with the character's signature round glasses and school uniform. McLaughlin is joined by Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The young trio were selected from more than 30,000 actors who auditioned in a casting call last fall.
New casting announced on Monday includes Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander. The series has also been confirmed to debut in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max where available.
Led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod of 'Succession,' HBO's new take on the beloved book-turned-movie-franchise will follow the young Potter as he discovers he's a wizard, leaves his muggle family behind and sets off to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along the way, he befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and battles Lord Voldemort.
Elsewhere, John Lithgow ('Conclave,' 'The Crown') will play Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer ('Tumbleweeds,' 'The White Queen') is Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu ('I May Destroy You,' 'Gangs of London') is Severus Snape and Nick Frost ('Shaun of the Dead,' 'Hot Fuzz') is Rubeus Hagrid. Other names include Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge. Variety exclusively reported that Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby will play Petunia and Vernon Dursley.
Each of the seven Harry Potter books will make up an entire season. Variety understands that shooting on Season 1 is expected to last until the spring of 2026, with Season 2 then going into production after a short break.
Newly announced department heads joining costume designer Holly Waddington include Adriano Goldman (director of photography), Cate Hall (hair and makeup designer), Paul Herbert (stunt coordinator), Mark Holt (SFX supervisor), Mara LePere-Schloop (production designer), Naomi Moore (set decorator), John Nolan (creature effects design supervisor), Alexis Wajsbrot (VFX supervisor) and Dom Sidoli (VFX producer).
The series is written and executive produced by Gardiner. Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes, which is being made by HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
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