HBO’sHarry PotterTV show is on the horizon, andcasting rumors about who will playHogwarts' famous professorshave recently surfaced, revealing the direction of the remake. Simultaneously, an open casting call continues for the Golden Trio: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. TheHarry Pottermoviesare enshrined in the hearts of viewers of all ages, and it could be difficult for the TV show to live up to their legacy. Now that casting has begun, it is becoming clear how the series may differ from the movies.
Released between 2001 and 2011,the Warner Bros.Harry Pottermoviesfeatured Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron, and Emma Watson as Hermione. These actors made the franchise what it was, alongside the movies' strong adult cast. Richard Harris famously played Albus Dumbledore in the first two movies before the role was taken over by Michael Gambon. TheHarry PotterTV show may face an uphill battle standing out next to the iconic movies, but its rumored casting choices clarify its tactics somewhat.
The Harry Potter Remake’s Casting Proves It’s Committing To Another Mostly British Cast
The Harry Potter TV Show Looks Set To Be Just As British As The Movies
HBO’sHarry PotterTV showappears to be recruiting mostly British actors for its cast. In November 2024,Varietyreported that theHarry Potterremake is trying to get Mark Rylance on board as Albus Dumbledore. This has not yet been confirmed, andDeadlinehas since reported that the show is tapping Mark Strong for the role. Both British actors are movie and TV veterans and would nail the part. The excellentHarry Pottermovies also chose mostly British actors for their cast. In that regard, it appearsthe TV show is trying to replicate the movies' success.
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TheHarry PotterTV show is reportedly considering Sharon Horgan for the role of Minerva McGonagall, according toDeadline. Meanwhile, Brett Goldstein is allegedly being eyed to play Rubeus Hagrid. Further casting news fromThe Hollywood Reportersuggests that Paapa Essiedu, who is known for his part inI May Destroy You, may be given the role of Professor Severus Snape. Both potential Dumbledore stars, Goldstein, and Essiedu are British, and Horgan is Irish. With Hogwarts set in Britain and written by a British author, itmakes sense to pursue a mostly British castfor this quintessentially English story.
The HBO Show Is Already Improving On The Diversity That’s Lacking In The Movies
The Harry Potter TV Show Looks Set To Embrace Diversity
TheHarry Potter show’s potential Snape casting is goodnews for the franchise, which has received criticism for lacking diversity.J.K. Rowling’s novels have been accused of lacking racial diversity, but it’s mostly the movies that receive this complaint. After all, the movies could have cast anyone, within reason, as some of Rowling’s characters aren’t described as a specific race in the books. Beyond that, casting major characters more diversely could have helped the narrative grow, rather than contradicting and limiting it. The Warner Bros. movies had the opportunity to do this and didn’t take it.
TheHarry PotterTV show looks like it could bring more diversity to the franchise than ever before.
Instead, the films utilized an overwhelmingly white main cast. They also recast Lavender Brown, who was played by Kathleen Cauley and Jennifer Smith in the early films, with a white actor inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.Harry and the Cursed Childstrives to be more inclusive than the movies, as the play features a Black actor as Hermione. And if Essiedu is cast as Snape, it looks like HBO’sHarry Potterremake will continue to embrace diversity, which is a step forward for the franchise.
Mark Rylance & Brett Goldstein Suggest The Harry Potter Show Wants Some Star Power
The Harry Potter Show Is Targeting Stars For Its Adult Cast
It seems like theHarry Pottershow is targeting well-known stars, which makes sense, as it will need to launch with aplomb. The show must live up to the movies and also bring its own flavor to the table. Otherwise, viewers will question why it was made, as the movies are not too old and have aged reasonably well. If properly cast,big names will help draw viewers in and retain them, while allowing HBO to put a powerful and unique mark on theHarry Potterfranchise. It makes sense for the show to cast big actors like Rylance and Goldstein.
Rylance proves the value big names could bring.
Rylance’s casting rumor bodes well forHarry Potteras the actor is a British thespian with extremely relevant experience. Rylance proves the value big names could bring. A career like his could only mean good things forHarry Potter.Rylance plays extremely nuanced characters, often as terrifying as they are strangely kind, which is the ideal experience for Albus Dumbledore. His prior roles suggest he’d be great as the Hogwarts headmaster, though Strong’s credits aren’t anything to scoff at either.
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Goldstein is a more intriguing choice as Hagrid, but he has the extensive career history to suggest he can handle the role. He’s probably best known for playing Roy Kent inTed Lasso,but he has also starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,Doctor Who,andThe Garfield Movie, in addition to doing stand-up comedy. BothRylance and Goldstein have experience on stage and in huge roles, just like the movies' cast, promising good things.
Harry Potter’s Remake Embracing A Younger Cast Is An Interesting Choice
The Most Surprising Thing About The Harry Potter Cast Is Its Age
HBO’sHarry Potterremake looks set to embrace a fairly young cast for its adult roles, which is surprising. TheHarry Pottermovies were known for the wizened old witches and wizards that walked Hogwarts' halls. This contributed to the atmosphere, alluding to classic notions of wizards like Tolkien’s Gandalf and old crones of folklore. It made the child cast feel more like children and the overall story feel more like a fairy tale.HBO’s decision to use younger actors will set it apart from the moviesand show a new side toHarry Potter’sprofessors.
Alan Rickman was 54 when he started playing Severus Snape and 64 in his last movie in the role.
Snape was 31 in the books, so Essiedu’s casting is more faithful to the source material than Alan Rickman’s was, in terms of age. However, Goldstein is 20 years younger than Hagrid, and Horgan is over 10 years younger than Maggie Smith inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Young professors may appear less intimidatingand more attractive to a younger audience. The show may be tapping into sex appeal with its adult cast, targeting a YA crowd. At least, it seems like theHarry PotterTV show could explore themes and character interactions that the movies didn’t.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
