Get ready to go back to Hogwarts. HBO’s new ‘Harry Potter’ series will be released every Christmas in 2026, and things are being done differently: each of JK Rowling’s seven books has its own season. So until we get to ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, ‘Chamber of Secrets’, ‘Deathly Hallows’, but in a bigger and longer format.
Dominic McLaughlin steps into Harry’s shoes. You probably don’t know him yet because he’s relatively new to the scene. According to Variety, he played the soon-to-be Hagrid in the Sky comedy ‘Grow’ alongside Nick Frost. Arabella Stanton takes on Hermione, and she was Matilda on the West End stage, so she has that classic book-smart energy. Alastair Stout is playing Ron, and this is actually his first real gig. These are fresh faces, and HBO made it big: 32,000 kids auditioned for the role of Harry. Mark Mylod and his casting team sifted through hundreds of tapes every day.
John Lithgow, already a legend, plays Professor Dumbledore. Paapa Essiedu is Snape. Janet McTeer is Professor McGonagall. Nick Frost brings Hagrid to life. Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby are terrific as Harry’s Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon.
Looking ahead to Season 1, Paul Whitehouse takes on the sly caretaker Argus Filch, Luke Thallon is Professor Quirrell, Katherine Parkinson is Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt is Draco Malfoy and Johnny Flynn is Lucius Malfoy.
Francesca Gardiner heads writing and executive production; he’s running the show. Mark Mylod is directing and executive producing, in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Rowling herself is involved as an executive producer, along with Heyday Films’ Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts and David Heyman.
Here, let’s unpack the entire cast and learn who plays who.
