After months of speculation, some casting announcements have finally been made about the upcoming “Harry Potter” television series.
On Monday, April, 14, HBO announced that John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu will play Severus Snape, Janet McTeer will portray Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost will step into the role of Rubeus Hagrid. All four actors will be series regulars.
The network also announced that Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse will join the cast as recurring characters. Thallon will play the nervous Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor Professor Quirrell, and Whitehouse will play the cantankerous Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch.
“We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life,” showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director and executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement.
The official casting announcement comes after Lithgow said he would be playing Dumbledore during a February interview with ScreenRant. HBO did not confirm his casting at the time, saying in a statement, “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
There are still several major casting decisions that are up in the air. The three main characters — Harry, Ron, and Hermione — will likely be played by relatively unknown actors, as Warner Bros. launched an open casting call for children between the ages of 9 and 11 last fall.
READ MORE: ‘Harry Potter’ fans have concerns about rumored Severus Snape casting
Fans are eager to hear who will be playing Lord Voldemort, with many speculating that Cillian Murphy will land the role. Ralph Fiennes, who portrayed the evil wizard in the film series, has voiced his approval for the choice.
“I actually think that’s a wonderful, wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favor of Cillian,” Fiennes said during a December 2024 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.”
Production for season 1 of the “Harry Potter” television adaptation will begin this summer. The series is set to debut in 2027.
All the “Harry Potter” films are available to stream on Peacock.
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