28-05-2025
Harry Potter TV Show Cast Guide: All the Characters in Hogwarts
It's almost time for a whole new generation of wizards and witches to be welcomed into Hogwarts.
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'Harry Potter,' the beloved fantasy book series from author J.K. Rowling that was turned into a blockbuster film franchise, is coming to HBO as a new TV series. Each of the seven books in the series, 'Sorcerer's Stone,' 'Chamber of Secrets,' 'Prisoner of Azkaban,' 'Goblet of Fire,' 'Order of the Phoenix,' 'Half-Blood Prince' and 'Deathly Hallows,' will each be adapted into one season of TV.
In May 2025, the trio of lead roles had finally been unveiled: Dominic McLaughlin will play the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. The three are largely newcomers with few prior acting credits. McLaughlin acted in 'Grow,' a comedy on Sky with Nick Frost and Golda Rosheuvel, Stanton starred as Matilda in the musical of the same name in the West End, and Stout had no prior acting credits.
HBO auditioned more than 32,000 children for the lead role of Harry Potter, famously originated by Daniel Radcliffe. Executive producer Mark Mylod said that the casting team had been reviewing between 500 and 1,000 audition tapes per day.
'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,' said showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod in a statement revealing the three actors.
Other series regulars include 'Conclave' star John Lithgow as Album Dumbledore, 'I May Destroy You' breakout star Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, 'Tumbleweeds' Oscar nominee Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall and 'Shaun of the Dead' comedian Nick Frost as Hagrid. Meanwhile, Paul Whitehouse (Tom Stoppard's 'Leopoldstadt,' Rupert Goold's 'Patriots') and Luke Thallon ('The Fast Show,' 'Harry & Paul') take on recurring roles as Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell, respectively.
The 'Harry Potter' series is written and executive produced by Gardiner, who also serves as showrunner. Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
See who all of the confirmed 'Harry Potter' cast members are below.
Young actor Dominic McLaughlin will star as Harry Potter, aka the Boy Who Lived, the role that launched Daniel Radcliffe to global fame. McLaughlin previously acted in 'Grow,' an upcoming comedy on Sky starring Nick Frost — who, coincidentally, will play Hagrid in 'Harry Potter' and Golda Rosheuvel.
Alastair Stout will play the red-headed wizard Ron Weasley and Harry's best friend at Hogwarts. 'Harry Potter' will be a huge breakout for Stout, who doesn't have any prior acting credits. With his red hair, Stout looks nearly identical to a young Rupert Grint, who starred as Ron in the original movies.
Arabella Stanton is the new Hermione Granger, one of the smartest students at Hogwarts and close friend of Harry and Ron. She previously starred as Matilda in 'Matilda: The Musical' on the West End, which was also her debut. Stanton inherits the role from Emma Watson, who hasn't acted much since 'Harry Potter' ended but has since starred in 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Little Women.'Original Actor: Richard Harris and Michael Gambon
The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, the most senior professor at Hogwarts and an early mentor figure for Harry. Prior to the events of 'Sorcerer's Stone,' Dumbledore (with the help of Minerva McGonagall) takes baby Harry to live with the Dursleys at Privet Actor: Alan Rickman
The potions professor at Hogwarts, Severus Snape is the head of the Slytherin House and an early adversary of Harry and his friends. Snape is cold towards his students (particularly Gryffindors) and many of his fellow professors, and soon Harry begins to suspect Snape may have ties to the dark Lord Actor: Maggie Smith
The head of the Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall is a transfiguration professor and an early ally of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Unbeknownst to Harry, McGonagall helped Dumbledore bring him to live with the Dursleys when he was a baby. She is also an animagus and can transform into a house cat at Actor: Robbie Coltrane
The half-giant Hagrid is a Hogwarts gamekeeper. He is the first to inform young Harry that he's a wizard and remains a close friend to the boy, as well as to Ron and Hermione, throughout the trio's time at school. Hagrid, though sometimes clumsy, deeply cares for living creatures. He watches over everything from dragons to Actor: David Bradley
Argus Filch is a caretaker at Hogwarts who couldn't care less about the students. A strict disciplinarian, Filch works with his cat, Mrs. Norris, to sniff out misbehaving kids. He is known as a 'squib,' which is someone who has no magic powers despite being descended from wizard Actor: Ian Hart
Quirinus Quirrell is an anxious Defense Against the Dark Arts professor when Harry begins attending Hogwarts. The professor previously taught Muggle Studies and also went on a search for Voldemort to learn more about the evil wizard. By the time Harry gets to know him, Quirrell turns out to be far more complicated than he seems on the surface.
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