As HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV series prepares to kick off filming this summer, fans are being treated to various exciting announcements, including which three young actors are set to play the iconic lead trio.
It was announced earlier this week that Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will star as Harry, Hermione and Ron.
They'll join previously announced cast members including John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, Janet McTeer, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse.
Warner Bros. Discovery first announced the project back in 2023, announcing that the TV series will be based on all seven books penned by J.K Rowling, with the first season set to adapt the first novel.
Got more questions about the project? Read on everything we know about the Harry Potter TV series so far.
Harry Potter TV series release date speculation
The new Harry Potter TV series is now expected to arrive in 2027, following a slight delay to the original timeline.
The project had initially been pegged for a premiere in late 2026, but in November of this year, HBO boss Casey Bloys said that it was looking unlikely that they would meet that target, instead pushing the series into the following year (via THR).
In December, he said that the plan is to start shooting the series in mid-summer 2025.
The delay isn't necessarily anything to worry about, with Bloys telling Deadline in September: "Writers have started. [Director] Mark Mylod has started.
"The team, they're hiring department heads, casting, and we're off... I feel very, very happy and excited about what they've got going."
He added that the broadcaster hopes to produce subsequent seasons at a faster rate than typical visual effects-heavy shows, citing how quickly children can age on screen.
"From 11 to 13 is a big jump in kids lives," he said. "We are going to think about scheduling, so they don’t grow too much between seasons. Annual [release] will be tough, but it depends on how much is written at a time."
The executive also confirmed that author JK Rowling is involved in the project, amid ongoing controversy online, which has turned some fans away from the beloved Wizarding World.
The author was absent from the 20-year anniversary special of the Harry Potter movies, while there were also boycotts of the Hogwarts Legacy game by some.
In response to these concerns, an HBO spokesperson said (via Variety): "We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.
"JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement."
Who will star in the Harry Potter TV series?
As mentioned above, the lead stars playing Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger have been confirmed.
Back in September, there was an open casting call looking for the three kids, with Warner boss Channing Dungey admitting it would be "tricky" to allocate the roles (via Variety).
Now we know that Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione and Alastair Stout will play Ron. Stanton is known for having previously starred in the West End production of Matilda, as well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Starlight Express.
Stout has been seen in TV advertisements, while McLaughlin will be seen in Sky Original comedy Grow.
Following the lead actors being announced, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement: "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. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there."
Meanwhile, HBO previously announced that John Lithgow is set to play Albus Dumbledore.
Lithgow previously said of taking on the role: "It came as a total surprise to me. 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."
Elsewhere, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) will star as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds) will star as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) will appear as Rubeus Hagrid.
While those four series regulars had previously been rumoured to be joining the project, some new additions are more unexpected.
The more surprising additions are Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) as Argus Filch, who will appear in guest/recurring roles.
Thallon is currently best known in the theatre world and most recently starred in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2025 Hamlet.
Unfortunately, those hoping for returns from the film franchise's stars, such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint, are out of luck – it's not looking likely.
Chatting to ComicBook.com, Radcliffe quashed any speculation about him making an appearance.
He said: "My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh, and I'm sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere."
He continued: "So I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way… 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."
Argus Filch star David Bradley told RadioTimes.com: "I think it’ll be very interesting to see what they will do with the extra time they’ll have to film more of the books than we could.
"The Goblet of Fire and the last two, they were quite chunky – how do you condense those into a two and a half hour film?
"Of course, you’ve got to sacrifice quite a lot of plot and characters. I’m assuming the reason they’re doing it is they’ll be able to include more of the story because they’ll have more screen time - a lot more than the films had. I’ll be interested. I haven’t had the call yet!"
Asked whether it felt strange to see a new adaptation in the works, Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, mused: "It’s no weirder for me than for everybody else who’s seen the films. I happen to be in the films too."
He continued: "They make a new Spider-Man every 15 minutes. You know, there was a ton of stuff in the books that we left out. Yeah, it's an odd feeling, but it’s no odder for me than it is anyone else. I can’t wait to see them and see what they do."
Behind the camera, we know that His Dark Materials writer Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner, while Succession director Mark Mylod is attached to produce and film some episodes.
Meanwhile, JK Rowling will executive produce the series, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
"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," said Rowling.
What is the Harry Potter TV series about?
The series will be based on all seven books in the series, published between 1997 and 2007.
A statement from the newly branded Max explained: "The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.
"The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years."
It continued: "Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally."
The Harry Potter series will stream on Max.
Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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