John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon, Paul Whitehouse join the cast of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’
| Photo Credit: Instagram/ @streamonmax
HBO’s Harry Potter reboot is starting to take shape, with the studio confirming key casting choices for several iconic Hogwarts staff members.
Leading the lineup is John Lithgow, who will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore. Joining him are Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. All four had previously been rumored, but HBO officially confirmed their roles on Monday.
Also joining the cast in recurring roles are Luke Thallon as the jittery Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch.
“We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard,” said showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer-director Mark Mylod in a joint statement. “We can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”
The series, described by HBO as a “faithful adaptation” of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling novels, will reintroduce the wizarding world to a new generation, with each season reportedly focusing on one book from the series. While the core trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione has yet to be cast, HBO’s open call reportedly drew over 30,000 auditions.
Filming is expected to begin this summer, with the series being produced by HBO in partnership with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. Gardiner serves as writer, showrunner, and executive producer, while Mylod will direct multiple episodes. Rowling returns as executive producer, along with Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and Harry Potter film producer David Heyman.
Published – April 15, 2025 11:03 am IST
