The rumour mill for HBO’s Harry Potter series is churning at an uncontrollable pace. Slated to debut in 2026, the series was officially announced by Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2023. Hailed as a “decade-long series”, the project has been the subject of immense scrutiny and excitement about the fanbase since its announcement.
As per Deadline, WB is looking for high-profile actors for the adult characters in the Harry Potter universe. One of the names that has surfaced among the rumours is Oscar-winner Mark Rylance for the character of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. Late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon portrayed the iconic character in the movie series. Another potential candidate for Dumbledore is Mark Strong, who recently appeared in HBO’s Penguin series and is also seen in the ongoing Dune: Prophecy series.
For Severus Snape, the studio is reportedly eyeing Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), played by the late Alan Rickman in the films.
Moreover, prominent female talents such as Rachel Weisz (Dead Ringers) and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) are being considered for Professor Minerva McGonagall, played by the late Maggie Smith in the movies.
However, there is one rumour that has caught everyone’s attention. Deadline has revealed that Emmy-winning Ted Lasso fame, Brett Goldstein, is being eyed for the role of Hogwarts’ gatekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, a character originally portrayed by the late Robbie Coltrane in the movie series.
None of these performers have received formal offers yet.
Despite the backlash from a group of fans, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series has all the hype in the world with it. The casting for the leading trio of Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger is underway ahead of the show’s 2025 summer production. Over 32,000 kids have sent their audition tapes for these popular characters. Casting director Lucy Bevan has been given the daunting task of finding worthy successors for Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione). Stay tuned for more updates.