HBO has officially unveiled the lead cast for its much-anticipated Harry Potter television series, naming Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout as the new Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively.
The casting announcement follows a global open call that attracted more than 30,000 young actors, marking one of the most ambitious searches in recent television history. Filming is set to begin this summer.
In a joint statement, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer-director Mark Mylod praised the trio’s performances:
“After 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. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen.”
Meet the New Golden Trio
-
Dominic McLaughlin, who takes on the role of Harry Potter, previously appeared in Grow, an upcoming comedy series on Sky alongside Nick Frost and Golda Rosheuvel.
-
Arabella Stanton, cast as Hermione Granger, earned acclaim for her portrayal of Matilda in the West End musical from 2023 to 2024.
-
Alastair Stout, the new Ron Weasley, is a newcomer making his debut in a major television role.
These young actors follow in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, whose original portrayals of the iconic characters brought them global fame in the early 2000s.
Expanded Cast
The series also features a distinguished supporting cast:
-
John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
-
Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
-
Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
-
Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
-
Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
-
Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
Production Team and Controversy
The Harry Potter series is being developed by HBO in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television and Brontë Film and TV. Francesca Gardiner serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Mylod directing multiple episodes. The production team also includes Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman, who produced the original film series.
Despite ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling’s public comments on the transgender community, HBO has continued its collaboration with her. Addressing concerns, HBO Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys said on The Town podcast:
“She’s entitled to her personal views. ‘Harry Potter’ is not secretly being infused with anything. If you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.”
Stanton is represented by Gavin Mills and Julie Gordon at Olivia Bell, and Public Eye.
