Latest news with #ArabellaStanton
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Emma Watson's dad warns parents of new Harry, Ron and Hermione of 'impact of fame on children' as HBO TV series begins filming
Emma Watson 's dad has warned the parents of the new Harry, Ron and Hermione of the 'impact of fame on children' as filming for the HBO TV series begins. The latest leading trio were finally announced this week after months of speculation - with Dominic McLaughlin landing the title role, while Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. Emma, 35, played Hermione for ten years in the Harry Potter film series, and now her dad Chris has told of how he worked hard to keep her 'grounded.' He told Times Radio: 'As a parent, you have to be scared ... This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not. 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies, it's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He added: 'Normal life continued as far as possible: her homework would go back to school on motorbikes, admittedly, but she had to do her homework and check in.' Filming for the new HBO series started this week in France with cast and crew setting up on the Île de Sein off the coast of Brittany where they are thought to be re-creating the famous moment that Hagrid says, 'You're a wizard Harry!' JK Rowling gave her approval to the trio cast as the new child stars of the multi-million-pound TV adaptation - after previously giving short shrift to racists complaining about producers' picks. There has been some online backlash against what has been branded ' woke ' reinterpreting of the wizarding franchise based on the seven bestselling books by Rowling, 59, which prompted eight movie versions. But the multi-millionaire author yesterday gave her first public response to the new Harry Potter television casting announcement, with showbusiness insiders suggesting she would have a key role in the new productions. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, asking the bestselling author to inform the new recruits the wizarding franchise's creator felt about their casting. And now Rowling has responded by declaring: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' The new adaptation will be spread across seven seasons, equal to the number of books - although there were eight films with the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows split into two parts. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million per episode - and the three child actors taking the lead roles have been tipped to land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers, when making Tuesday's casting announcement. They 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.' Rowling released the first Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Arabella Stanton wows fans as her Hermione Granger audition tape goes viral
Arabella Stanton, a child actress, has quickly gained a lot of popularity in a short time. She has been officially cast to play the younger Hermione Granger in the new and upcoming 'Harry Potter' series. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recently, a video of her audition appeared on the internet, and the public has been very impressed. Arabella Stanton's audition video gains attention online A video of Arabella's audition has been shared widely online. In the video, the 11-year-old actress can be seen reciting some well-known lines of the character Hermione Granger with ease and confidence. She delivers the lines just as Hermione would, showing great skill and poise. Fans of the 'Harry Potter' series have been very happy with the casting choices so far. The audition clip has only strengthened their belief that the new series will stay true to the books and be popular with viewers. Fans react to the video on social media Many fans took to social media to express their excitement about the casting. They are looking forward to seeing Arabella Stanton play Hermione Granger on screen. One fan wrote, 'Arabella Stanton is going to be PHENOMENAL as Hermione Granger in the 'Harry Potter' TV series!' Another said, 'She really understands the character.' Another comment under the viral post said, 'Honestly, Arabella Stanton is a much more advanced actress than was before she started playing Hermione Granger in the 'Harry Potter' films. Arabella nailed this audition; she sounds just like Hermione. Great casting choice.' Casting of the show After it was announced that the show was in the process of production and was looking for young talent to play the titular characters, over 30,000 people applied for the roles. Out of them, Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley have all been chosen as the official cast of the main trio.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
HBO Harry Potter: What was it like auditioning to be part of the new TV series?
Almost every child has dreamed, if only for a moment, of living in the world of Harry the cast was announced for the films back in the early 2000s, I remember feeling a pang of jealousy – Emma Watson was fine, but wasn't I the real Hermione Granger? I would have given anything for a casting director to have spotted me and whisked me away to Hogwarts to play the iconic three young actors - Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout - that fantasy has become a reality after they were cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron in HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV trio went through a process that lasted for months and included several rounds of auditions and were eventually chosen after more than 30,000 children applied to join the wizarding world through an open casting call. What was the process like, and what lies in store for the chosen few? Daniela Tasker saw the open casting call advertised on Facebook and encouraged her son and daughter to audition. They were asked to submit two videos - a memorised monologue and a short introductory clip talking about their hobbies. Her son Marcus received a call back. "Marcus wasn't very interested in Harry Potter but when he made it to the next stage he read all the books, watched the films and went through a phase of loving it," Daniela tells the October, Marcus was sent a script from classic 1982 film ET to perform - but after submitting his video, he didn't hear being "very sad" about the outcome, Marcus is now determined to apply for other acting roles and has his second-round script framed in his bedroom. Those who made it past the second round of auditions had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), meaning they can't publicly reveal any information about the casting one parent who spoke to the BBC anonymously said their son made it through several rounds of the process and was still attending auditions until recently. 'Dodged a bullet' The young boy was given a script for the new series and attended in-person workshops with other children. "We had a glimpse of what the show will be like and we are very excited for it," the parent says. "You can tell a lot of care has gone into the details." But the parent started to "get cold feet" as the process went on when they realised how life-changing this role would be."It started to become more daunting and we realised the huge pressure that would be on our son if he got the role. He was a little disappointed to be unsuccessful but I think we've dodged a bullet." Earlier this year, a play called Second Best, starring Sex Education's Asa Butterfield, told the story of a former child actor who narrowly missed out on playing Harry Potter when he was Barney Norris, who adapted Second Best for the stage, spoke to a dozen men who were all in the final stages of playing Harry back in 2000. "I feel conflicted about seeing these three kids be announced as the new cast," Norris says. "It's a lovely moment for them, but you also realise their life will never be the same again and growing up as a teenager in the public eye can have a huge psychological impact."Norris says the TV show's casting directors would be likely to have assessed the support systems around the children as well as their talent."It would have been part of the casting process, and no doubt these children have amazing families around them to help their children through a very high-profile and public adolescence." Casper Martin, from Derby, was another child who applied to play Harry - because people had often told him he looked like the character. "It seemed silly not to try for it, but I told him it's almost certainly not going to happen, so he had realistic expectations," his mother Lisa three children who were eventually cast in the lead roles all have some professional acting experience, which caused a bit of controversy online, with some people questioning whether the open casting call was just for show."It's a big gamble to take a kid who has never been in the acting world before so I understand why they picked someone with experience," Lisa Martin says. Sarah Howlett, who submitted an application for her 10-year-old daughter, agrees and thinks having an agent "would have definitely increased Ella's chances". According to Ms Howlett, children with an agent were able to skip the first step of submitting two introductory videos and were "put a level ahead". "Ella was very excited to enter and even though she was disappointed not to get further in the process, it was just a dream for her to just apply."She adds that perhaps the reason Ella didn't progress was because "she was too similar to how Emma Watson played the character and maybe the casting directors wanted something different this time". While details of the casting decisions for HBO's show remain mostly under wraps, Flick Miles, who played Emma Watson's body double in the first three films, says she imagines the process would have been "relatively similar"."When I was cast there was such an importance around duty of care and everyone right to the top was focused on ensuring we had a good support system and were happy."The stars of the TV show will be thrust fully into the spotlight when it airs - it is expected to start in 2026 or 27, and carry on for a decade. Miles tells me that while she has fond memories of her time on the film sets, the new cast will have a more intense experience than the original children did in the early 2000s. "We could just live in a bubble without knowing what was being said about us, but now with social media it's totally different. "I am sure the team will try so hard to preserve their innocence and childhood. But it will be really hard."Speaking to several children who tried out for the TV show, none regret applying, and it seems they are happy to have been a small part of the Harry Potter magic.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
BBC confirms huge Casualty news and it's the end of an era
Following the news BBC One medical drama Casualty has been put out to tendering, a huge change for the structure of the show has been revealed. The competitive tender process will decide which producer makes the show, though the BBC will retain all the rights for the programme. Casualty will also continue to air on BBC One. While this development won't impact the future of the medical drama, it will change the foundations of the series. Casualty is set in the Emergency Department of Holby City Hospital, but this won't be the case once the new production company take over. It means the ED will be set in Wales, rather than the fictional city of Holby. In an official document from the broadcaster, there is hope the show will 'evolve into Welsh portrayal while maintaining the core attraction to the loyal fan base'. The contract asks tenderers to include 'authentic representation of Wales and reflect the reality of the Welsh NHS'. 'This is not about radical change of the show, although the move to Welsh portrayal will mean a new fictional hospital based in Wales, and tenderers will need to address this core change in their editorial pitch to the evaluation panel. 'The successful tenderer will need to be able to demonstrate how to incorporate Welsh portrayal and maintain familiarity at the same time.' We currently don't know how the move to the Welsh hospital will take place. It means there's a possibility the history of Holby could be eradicated altogether but on the other hand, the show could simply note that Holby is a district in Wales, therefore keeping it familiar to fans of both shows, but opening up more opportunities to explore the Welsh NHS. The new Casualty producer is set to take over in November, with the revamped episodes airing in late 2026. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! It is also expected that some familiar faces will move to Wales in the new series. The document also states: 'We would seek to maintain and increase diversity in the current regular cast and off-screen talent. View More » 'Tenderers should make evident in their ITT Response how they propose to build on this core ambition and continue to appeal to a broad audience from right across the social and demographic spectrums that fully reflect British multi-culture, voices and diversity, including authentic representation of Welsh lives.' MORE: Interior Design Masters fans fume after favourite loses to 'ugly' design in shock finale MORE: New BBC drama smashes records despite viewers 'switching off' after 5 minutes MORE: Here's why fans think Arabella Stanton as new Hermione is 'perfect casting'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Arabella Stanton? Actor to play Hermione in new Harry Potter series
The magic of Harry Potter is set to return to screens, and with it comes a new cast ready to step into the iconic roles. Arabella Stanton, a young British actor known for her impressive performance in Matilda: The Musical on the West End, has been officially cast as Hermione Granger in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation. The news was confirmed by HBO and showrunner Francesca Gardiner following an extensive casting search. Stanton joins a fresh trio of talent, marking a new era for the beloved wizarding world. Arabella Stanton's theatrical roots Arabella Stanton may be new to the wizarding world, but she's no stranger to the stage. She gained acclaim for her portrayal of Matilda in Matilda: The Musical from 2023 to 2024, where her strong stage presence and emotional depth won over audiences and critics alike. Stanton's background in musical theatre and live performance brings a unique strength to the complex role of Hermione Granger—a character known for her intelligence, loyalty, and courage. Harry Potter's new golden trio: Fresh faces for a timeless tale Joining Stanton are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. McLaughlin has earned attention for his role in the upcoming Sky comedy Grow, while Stout is a rising star in the UK's youth theatre scene. More than 30,000 young actors auditioned globally for the coveted roles, making the final casting announcement highly anticipated by fans. According to Gardiner and executive producer Mark Mylod, the three actors stood out for their natural chemistry and individual talent. 'We cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen,' said Mylod in an official statement. A mix of youth and seasoned talent While the series will focus on younger characters, the supporting cast brings in well-known names from film and television. John Lithgow has been cast as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer will play Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu takes on the role of Severus Snape, and Nick Frost joins as Hagrid. This blend of young and veteran performers aims to deliver a fresh yet faithful interpretation of J.K. Rowling 's original characters. A faithful adaptation, says HBO The series is being described as a 'faithful adaptation' of the Harry Potter book series, rather than a continuation or reboot of the original films. Each season will reportedly focus on one book, offering more screen time to beloved subplots and character arcs that the films had to trim. With Gardiner writing and serving as showrunner, and Mylod directing several episodes, HBO aims to create a rich, layered reimagining of the wizarding world. Rowling's role and creative direction J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, is on board as an executive producer. While her involvement has sparked public conversation, HBO has clarified that the show will not be shaped by political or social controversies. Instead, the focus remains on bringing the original books to life in greater detail, with modern storytelling techniques and high production values. Filming is expected to begin later this year, with a release date yet to be officially announced. The series will stream exclusively on HBO Max. With a cast that blends promising young talent and seasoned performers, fans can expect a bold new take on the world of Hogwarts, one that stays true to the books while exploring new creative territory.
