HBO's 'Harry Potter' series cast: Meet the new generation of stars headed to Hogwarts in 4 months

Can you feel the magic? The Harry Potter franchise is expanding once again with HBO's Harry Potter TV series, set to premiere Dec. 25.

The show has a lot to live up to, given the success of J.K. Rowling's book series and the Warner Bros. movie adaptations. But fans have shown excitement as HBO has revealed the sprawling cast bringing a new generation of beloved characters to the screen.

The first season has finished filming at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K., where the original movie franchise was filmed from 2000 to 2010 . Each season will focus on one of the seven books.

HBO has already renewed the series for Season 2, which will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Game of Thrones star Kit Harington will be among the new faces at Hogwarts.

The episodes are being written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner, whose credits include HBO's drama Succession and the BBC's spy thriller Killing Eve. Mark Mylod, who also worked on Succession , will direct several episodes. Jon Brown has been named co-showrunner alongside Gardiner for Season 2.

Here's what we know so far about the cast.

McLaughlin will be playing the iconic role of Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe starred as the character from 2001 through 2011. The Scottish actor, who is 12 years old, also appeared in the BBC series Gifted and Sky original film Grow .

Twelve-year-old Stanton will play Hermione Granger, one of the brightest witches of her generation. The character was previously played by Emma Watson in all eight Harry Potter films. This is Stanton's first onscreen role, having previously starred in Matilda on London's West End in 2023.

Stout will play Ron Weasley, the sixth and youngest son in the Weasley family. Rupert Grint originated the role, starting when he was just 11 years old. According to Stout's online actor profile , this will be his first onscreen acting role after previously being cast in a commercial for Albert Bartlett potatoes.

Pratt will play Slytherin antagonist Draco Malfoy, who was portrayed by Tom Felton in the films. The young British actor also starred as one of the lead characters in the BBC's adaptation of Lord of the Flies , William Golding's 1954 novel.

Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. The character has previously been played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the Harry Potter franchise and Jude Law and Toby Regbo in the Fantastic Beasts series.

"Well, it came as a total surprise to me," Lithgow told ScreenRant in February 2025. "I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes."

The British actor has been cast as Severus Snape, the potions professor at Hogwarts. Alan Rickman played Snape in all eight Harry Potter films. Essiedu earned several nominations for his role in the BBC's I May Destroy You and costarred with Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

McTeer will play Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House and the deputy headmistress under Dumbledore. Maggie Smith played McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, while Fiona Glascott played her in Fantastic Beasts. McTeer has won multiple theater, film and TV awards and nominations and starred in 2025's Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning with Tom Cruise.

Frost has been cast as Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant who works as the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Robbie Coltrane originated the character in the Harry Potter movies. Frost is most well known for his involvement in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and World's End.

Whitehouse will play Argus Filch, the caretaker at Hogwarts, who was portrayed by David Bradley in every Harry Potter film. The British actor was one of the main stars of the BBC sketch comedy show The Fast Show , which ran from 1994 to 2014.

The British stage actor will play Quirinus Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the first book and movie, which means Thallon will only be in the first season of the show. Ian Hart played Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Thallon has played the lead in multiple major stage productions in London.

Flynn has been cast as Draco Malfoy's father, Lucius Malfoy, previously played by Jason Isaacs. Flynn starred in Netflix's sitcom Lovesick and is also known for his performances as David Bowie in Stardust and George Knightley in Emma , an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. Isaacs, who played Lucius in the original Harry Potter films, reacted to the casting in a post on Instagram on June 9, saying he was "thrilled to be passing the keys to Malfoy Manor" and called Flynn "a brilliant actor."

Powley will be playing Harry's aunt Petunia Dursley, originally portrayed by Fiona Shaw. Powley's known for her roles in The Diary of a Teenage Girl and The Morning Show .

Rigby will play Harry's uncle Vernon Dursley, who was played by the actor Richard Griffiths in the original films. Rigby's acting history is a mix of stage theater, stand-up comedy, films and TV. On Instagram , the comedian said he was "thrilled to be playing the world's worst muggle, Uncle Vernon."

Parkinson will play Ron Weasley's mom, Molly Weasley, who was previously played by Julie Walters. Parkinson rose to prominence with her role in the British comedy series The IT Crowd , which earned her two BAFTA awards for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2009 and 2014. She's most recently starred in the hit TV show Rivals .

Game of Thrones star Harington will play Gilderoy Lockhart, the wizard who becomes Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in Chamber of Secrets . Kenneth Branagh originally portrayed the character in the 2002 film. He replaces Nicholas Hoult, who was initially cast in the role but left the series due to scheduling conflicts.

Warwick Davis, who played two different characters in the movies, is reprising one of his roles — as Charms Professor Filius Flitwick, HBO announced last year. Davis is the first actor from the original Harry Potter films playing the same character in the upcoming series.

"Hogwarts has always held a very special place in my heart," Davis wrote in an Instagram caption after the casting announcement was made. "Thank you to all the fans who have kept the magic alive — I can't wait to see you back in the classroom. Here's to further adventures at Hogwarts."

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry, told ComicBook in June 2023 that he supported the new show but was not interested in being involved.

"I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way," he said. "But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world, and I'm very excited to have that torch passed. But I don't think it needs me to physically pass it."

Several actors involved in the film series — Rickman, Coltrane, Gambon and Smith — have since died.

HBO has unveiled more cast members who will play minor — but still memorable — characters in the upcoming TV show.

William Nash is Draco Malfoy's Slytherin friend Gregory Goyle, played by Josh Herdman in the movies.

Finn Stephens is Malfoy's other friend Vincent Crabbe, originally played by Jamie Waylett.

Elijah Oshin is the fellow Gryffindor Dean Thomas, previously played by Alfred Enoch.

Bríd Brennan is the Hogwarts healer Madam Poppy Pomfrey, originally played by Gemma Jones.

Richard Durden has been cast as History of Magic Professor Cuthbert Binns, a character who was not portrayed in the original Harry Potter movies.

Sirine Saba is Herbology Professor Pomona Sprout, who was played by Miriam Margolyes.

Leigh Gill is playing the Gringotts goblin banker Griphook, previously played by Warwick Davis (who also played Professor Flitwick).

Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, originally played by James Phelps.

Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, formerly played by Oliver Phelps.

Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, played by Chris Rankin in the movies.

Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, originally portrayed by Bonnie Wright. She will be recast in Season 2 "due to unforeseen circumstances."

Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, originally played by Matthew Lewis.

Amos Kitson is playing Dudley Dursley, who was played by Harry Melling in the movies.

Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, previously played by Zoë Wanamaker.

Anton Lesser is Garrick Ollivander, formerly played by John Hurt.

Leo Earley is Seamus Finnigan, previously portrayed by Devon Murray.

Alessia Leoni is Parvati Patil, originally played by Shefali Chowdhury.

Sienna Moosah is Lavender Brown, played by Jessie Cave in the films.

Bertie Carvel will play Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, who was previously played by Robert Hardy.

Is J.K. Rowling involved in the TV show?

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said that he and HBO and Max executives Casey Bloys and Channing Dungey have met with author J.K. Rowling about the reboot.

"We spent some real time with J.K. and her team," Zaslav said during a Warner Bros. company call in December. "Both sides are thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead."

In a Warner Bros. press release in 2023, Rowling said, "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series."

Bloys told IndieWire in November 2024 that Rowling has "been fairly involved in the process of selecting the writer and director" of the TV show and will "have opinions on casting."

In an April 2025 episode of The Town podcast , which covers Hollywood news, Bloys defended HBO's decision to continue working with Rowling on the show after some fans raised concerns over her political beliefs .

"The decision to be in business with J.K. Rowling is not new for us," Bloys said. "We've been in business for 25 years. We already have a show on HBO from her called C.B. Strike that we do with the BBC. It's pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She's entitled to them. Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter."

Fan concerns about Rowling's involvement have popped up multiple times since the new series was announced. In April 2025, Essiedu, who was cast as Snape, along with Eddie Redmayne, who starred in Fantastic Beasts, and Katie Leung, who was in the original Harry Potter films, signed an open letter calling on the U.K.'s entertainment industry to protect the transgender community.

While Rowling condemned the petition on X, she later responded directly to speculation she would fire Essiedu from the new series, writing: "I don't have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn't exercise it if I did. I don't believe in taking away people's jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine."