- A month after locking in the first six major cast members for its ambitious seven-season Harry Potter series, HBO has officially unveiled the core trio.
- Dominic McLaughlin inherits the mantle of Harry Potter; while Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton steps up as as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.
- HBOโs Harry Potter series release date: TBA (this article will be updated as details come to light).
After confirming a few earlier suspicions (and springing a surprise or two) with the initial announcement of six key cast members, HBO has unveiled the young players taking centre stage for its highly-anticipated Harry Potter series.
The extensive search, which called for British children aged between nine and 11 all across the lands, has led to the discovery of newcomers Dominic McLaughlin as the eponymous Harry Potter (AKA The Boy Who Lived), Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Sizeable inheritances from Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
โAfter 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,โ said showrunner Francesca Gardiner (His Dark Materials, Succession, Killing Eve) and series director Mark Mylod (Game of Thrones, Entourage, Succession); both of whom simultaneously juggle executive producer duties for the forthcoming show.
โThe 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. Itโs been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.โ
They join Emmy-winning character actor John Lithgow, who has accepted the all-important role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore (the fourth after the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, as well as Jude Law); plus Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, and I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu, who portrays double agent Severus Snape (originally played by the late Alan Rickman).
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Yet another Gangs of London alum and Ozark thespian, Janet McTeer, takes over as Professor Minerva McGonagall from the late Maggie Smith; and as for the loveable half giant groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, taking over from the late Robbie Coltrane will be Nick Frost of the Cornetto Trilogy with Simon Pegg fame.
Luke Thallon has also been tapped for Defence Against The Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell, alongside Paul Whitehouse as Hogwartsโ squib caretaker Argus Filch (guest and recurring roles, respectively).
โWeโre delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we canโt wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life,โ said Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod at the time.
โIt was not an easy decision because itโs going to define me for the last chapter of my life, Iโm afraid. But Iโm very excited,โ Lithgow said months earlier to ScreenRant.
โSome wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. Thatโs why itโs been such a hard decision. Iโll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but Iโve said yes.โ
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The question that remains is precisely who will inherit the equally iconic roles of Sirius Black, Lucius Malfoy, and of course, wizarding Hitler analogue Lord Voldemort.
The latter of whom has been reportedly linked to the Academy Award-winning Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer, Peaky Blinders, Small Things Like These); which has soundly earned the support of OG villain Ralph Fiennes.
In total, all eight original films grossed US$7.7 billion globally against an aggregate production budget of US$1.2 billion and spawned a franchise legacy like no other that took on a life of its own beyond the seven fantasy novels of J.K. Rowling.
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