Who’s Been Cast in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV Show?

HBO is hoping to recreate the magic with its upcoming Harry Potter scripted series, which it has suggested will be a “faithful” re-creation of the original books by JK Rowling. Ostensibly, a show will have more time to delve into the details and characters that fans may have been upset were cut out of the movie adaptations. (Of course, there’s also some controversy over what’s staying in — there are definitely some people who wish that HBO would leave JK Rowling out of this TV adaptation due to how outspoken she’s been about anti-trans views that fans and celebrities alike have criticized her for.) Ultimately, will anyone be satisfied with this retelling? It might take 10 years to say for sure. for VarietyWarner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said in February 2024 that this decade-long project will have seven seasons, one for each book. We’ve already got our golden trio of Gryffindors, but who are the other wizards and witches who have signed up to potentially dedicate the next chapter of their career to adapting these books? Here, everything to know about who is in the cast and crew — and when all of them will be headed to Hogwarts.

On May 27, HBO announced the trio that beat out “tens of thousands of children who auditioned.” Dominic McLaughlin will bring the Boy Who Lived to life again as the new Harry Potter. Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, after previously playing another book lover (one of the West End’s many Matildas), while Alastair Stout will round out the golden trio as Ron Weasley. If this show really ends up being the ten-year project that HBO envisions, the world will watch these kids grow up and reach voting age before it ends.

A lot of faculty are onboard as series regulars, with Paapa Essiedu’s casting as Severus Snape notably generating some controversy. Meanwhile, John Lithgow has quipped that he’ll be “about 87 years old at the wrap party” now that he’s accepted his role as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. HBO has also confirmed Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as keeper of the keys Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch. But the casting team doesn’t have much time to rest. There are still plenty of professors left to hire, plus an entire rest of the student body to enroll.

Succession producer and His Dark Materials writer Francesca Gardiner will serve as the showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Fellow Succession producer Mark Mylod will reunite with her to executive-produce and direct multiple episodes. Holly Waddington, the Oscar-winning costume designer for Poor Thingsis also onboard to do the wardrobe for this new generation of witches and wizards.

Yes, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Rowling is on board as an executive producer. And it seems like it’ll stay that way: HBO has consistently stood by her involvement despite the criticism she has faced for her anti-trans views. “We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance,” the studio said in a November 2024 statement to Variety. “JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.” Similarly, when asked this year about the controversy surrounding the author, HBO CEO Casey Bloys suggested that Rowling’s “personal, political views” have no impact on the content of the show. “If you want to debate here, you can go on Twitter,” he added.

HBO hasn’t set an official back-to-school date for Hogwarts yet. But according to that DeadlineBloys said in an earnings call that he expects the show to debut in late 2026 or early 2027. Plus, Max previously announced in December 2024 that production on the Harry Potter show will begin at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios in summer 2025.