Latest news with #RonWeasley
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter reboot risks fan backlash over 'unexpected filming location'
Filming for the new Harry Potter reboot, which is being adapted for the small screen, is said to be underway, after the three main actors were announced last week Harry Potter reboot is said to be risking backlash from fans as the show films scenes in an "unexpected location". The HBO TV reboot is due to start filming in the Île de Sein off Brittany, despite the story being set in Britain. Producers have reportedly chosen the French location to set scenes for the hit where Hagrid appears to announce: "You're a wizard, Harry." However, the books detail that the hut is located on an island off Cornwall and not France. But, bosses are said to have chosen the different location to portray the iconic scene. However, it's been reported that some of the crew have found the choice amusing as they could've found a suitable place closer to home. The Sun reported that a TV insider said: "This caused a certain amount of amusement among the British crew who all agreed that they could have easily got windswept in virtually any part of the British Isles. They've been slightly bewildered by the fact they've actually gone to France to make a show which is so British — particularly since it's the first place they've gone to and they're doing key scenes there. "For fans it's likely to be a sign that with American producers running the show, it might not be as mindful of Harry Potter as a national treasure that shouldn't be tampered with." Around 30 people are said to be at Pointe du Raz on the west coast of Brittany and have been travelling by boat to the island each day. It's thought that there is a supposedly haunted 19th century lighthouse on the island which might be used as the hut in the TV series. The iconic Harry Potter franchise films were all made in the studio or on location in Britain. Locations such as London, Bath, Durham and the Scottish Highlands were used as filming locations. Warner Bros has invested millions in expanding its studio at Leavesden, near Watford for the filming on the TV reboot. This comes after it was announced last week which actors would be taking on the main three roles in the show - Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin would be taking on the lead role previously played in the movies by Daniel Radcliffe. He will be working alongside fellow rising stars Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Hagrid, which was previously played by late actor Robbie Coltrane, will now be taken over by Nick Frost instead. Albus Dumbledore will be played by actor John Lithgow will be the wizard school's headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Paul Whitehouse will appear as Hogwarts' caretaker Argus Filch.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Can HBO's ‘Harry Potter' Series Save Fantasy TV?
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley I've struggled with my feelings about the upcoming Harry Potter series currently in development at HBO. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 released in 2011, which feels both incredibly recent and like some distant time from another world. Is it too soon for a reboot? Or does it make sense to create a new version of these stories in the hopes of bringing in a new generation of Potterverse fans? Perhaps the answer to this question is that both things are true, and this is why I have such mixed feelings. Kids born in 2011 are 14-years-old now. They didn't grow up with the books and films in the same way we did. I was 16 when when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published – a lifetime ago – just two years older than these kids are now. I was only 20 when the first movie hit theaters. While it's easy to look at the reboot as a cash grab – and certainly Warner Bros hopes to make bundles of money and massively boost HBO Max subscriptions – there's also something exciting about the new format. Giving each book an entire season of breathing room means the novels can be adapted more faithfully than the films, with fewer cuts and changes to the source material. Modern technology and filmmaking can lend the stories more magic, at least from a technical standpoint, though obviously much rests on the quality of the scripts and direction. On the other hand, the movies were excellent for the most part, and we've come to associate all these characters with the actors who played them. Casting is, of course, the biggest controversy so far, for both good and bad reasons. Still, the more I sit with all the choices, the less worried I become. Paapa Essiedu is certainly too good-looking to play Severus Snape, but he's a talented actor. It's possible that flashbacks with James Potter and the bullying element of the story will be more uncomfortable because he's black, but it's also possible that the racial undertones will lend more weight to the story. The same goes for Hermione and the 'mudblood' themes. Speaking of which, the three kids they cast for the main roles (pictured above) look like great casting choices. They also have terrific names that would be at home in any Harry Potter story: Dominic McLaughlin will play the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. They cast an actual redhead for Ron! Eat your heart out Netflix's The Witcher. You are not forgiven for Triss Merigold. Hopefully the internet surprises us all and is kind to these three young actors, who will undoubtedly face backlash from all sides, both because they are not the actors we know and love from the movies and because J.K. Rowling and her creations have become deeply controversial over the past decade – and because Arabella Stanton is not white. The only real casting concern I have is John Lithgow as Dumbledore, and that's not because he isn't a terrific actor, but because he is old and we have many years of filming ahead of us. It would be a shame to have to recast the Hogwarts schoolmaster all over again. Still, Lithgow ought to make a great Albus Dumbledore. Hopefully HBO will bang out a new season every year and break this trend of two to three years between seasons. All of this gets me, by way of rambling, to the question posed in the headline. Can this project save fantasy television? I was thinking about this after the unfortunate cancellation of The Wheel Of Time at Amazon. In many ways, it was the best remaining epic fantasy series out there. Sure, we have House Of The Dragon, but after that show's second season I have such grave concerns with the direction of the show that I'm not even particularly excited for Season 3. I remain hopeful that they'll course correct, but what a snooze-fest it's become. As far as big-budget epic fantasy (that isn't animated) that leaves us with The Rings Of Power, perhaps the most disappointing television series ever made, geared squarely at the most casual audience. It has all the trappings of epic fantasy, of course, but none of the substance. It is Tolkien written by ChatGPT. Only one fantasy series of note is in the offing, and it's yet another Game Of Thrones spinoff: A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, which is set to release next year, though with a slim six-episode first season. I'm beyond excited for this one, but it's looking awfully lonely. The raft of fantasy shows that followed in the wake of Game Of Thrones has all but disappeared after a long string of disappointments and cancellations. Could a new Harry Potter series breathe new life into the fantasy genre, inspiring other streamers like Amazon and Netflix to invest again in chasing this particular dragon? The last time around was a bit of a letdown. Shadow and Bone was cancelled at Netflix after two seasons. The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance only survived for one. The Witcher has limped along three seasons but will end after its fourth and the recasting of Henry Cavill's Geralt of Rivia. Sci-fi has fared better, but the fantasy boom has all but ended unless Harry Potter can turn the tables. I wondered all the way back in 2011 in The Atlantic when fantasy's spell on pop culture would wear off. It appears we are on the precipice, though audiences seem at least as weary of comic book movies, Star Wars and countless other once-booming subgenres and franchises. The thrill isn't gone, but it's diminished. When it comes to fantasy, perhaps it's for the best. The books are almost always better, after all. Our imaginations spin better and more magical worlds than even the best camera work and CGI. But like the Harry Potter show itself, I have mixed feelings. I'm willing to be convinced.
Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Meet The 3 Main Cast Members Of HBO's Revamped Harry Potter Series
The wizarding world of Harry Potter has taken the world by storm with the production of eight movies, seven books and an entire collection of spin-offs, and now, finally, HBO announced they were going to revamp the series for the first time for the small screens. We got a whiff of the news back in 2021, and now we're finally putting a face to the name, with cast announcements made yesterday. Meet your new Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the upcoming HBO Original series based on the iconic 'Harry Potter' franchise. Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Alastair Stout (Ron), and Arabella Stanton (Hermione) have been cast as the golden trio, HBO announced yesterday (27 May 2025) via its social media channels. During the casting auditions in September 2024, more than 30,000 actors auditioned for the lead roles. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod commented in a statement, '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 trio, all relatively new to the film industry, join John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), and Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape) in the cast of the highly anticipated reboot of the series. While this marks Stout's first major screen role, McLaughlin previously appeared in the upcoming Sky comedy 'Grow', starring Nick Frost and Golda Rosheuvel. Stanton, meanwhile, played the title role in 'Matilda the Musical' in the West End from 2023 to 2024. As reported by the BBC, filming is expected to begin in summer at the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden and is speculated to air in 2026 on HBO Max. On an interesting note, HBO has disabled its comments section after the announcement of their new casting. What do you think of this golden trio hitting the small screens in 2026? Sources: Variety, BBC, Instagram Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
New Harry Potter HBO series cast: Who we know so far
New Harry Potter HBO series cast: Who we know so far Another big casting domino has fallen for the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series as the main three roles have been filled. After a reported 30,000 young actors auditioned for the roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, the trio has been chosen. Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. All three young actors are new on the scene, with only McLaughlin having a previous on-screen acting role (the upcoming comedy Grow on Sky). Stanton was Matilda on stage in "Matilda: The Musical" in London's West End in 2023-24. The television reboot of the wildly popular books and Warner Brothers movies is scheduled to begin filming in summer of 2025. No release date for the series has been announced yet. Here's the cast that has been announced so far: Albus Dumbledore -- John Lithgow Minerva McGonagall -- Janet McTeer Severus Snape -- Paapa Essiedu Rubeus Hagrid -- Nick Frost Quirinius Quirrell -- Luke Thallon Argus Filch -- Paul Whitehouse We're sure there's more casting news to come, hopefully soon.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'Harry Potter' series casts iconic trio: meet the new Harry, Hermione and Ron
Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout have been cast as Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in HBO's highly-anticipated "Harry Potter" series. Dominic McLaughlin will take on the role of Harry Potter , while Arabella Stanton will play the brilliant and resourceful Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout is set to portray the loyal and heartwarming Ron Weasley. After an extensive search that saw over 30 000 aspiring young actors audition for the highly anticipated ' Harry Potter ' television series, HBO has finally chosen the three wizards who will bring the show to life. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. '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," wrote showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod in a joint statement. Gardiner and Mylod also extended their gratitude to the vast number of children who auditioned. The new series aims to be a more faithful representation of J.K. Rowling's beloved books, as compared to previous film adaptations. HBO has ambitious plans for the show, envisioning a decade-long project that spans seven seasons - one for each book. The casting of the main trio is just the beginning, with further announcements about the supporting cast expected to follow soon. McLaughlin is no stranger to the entertainment industry, making waves with his upcoming role in 'Grow', a comedy on Sky featuring stars like Nick Frost. Stanton is well-known for her role as Matilda in the acclaimed 'Matilda: The Musical' on the West End, while Stout marks his debut with his role as Ron Weasley.
