New Harry Potter TV series reveals main cast, fans worry about one thing

Home Box Office (abbreviated as HBO) has just officially announced three young faces to take on the main roles in the Harry Potter TV series - a project with a large investment and expected to last more than a decade. Immediately after the announcement, this information immediately caused a stir in the global fan community.

Especially those who have been attached to the famous series of novels and movies written by British writer Joanne Rowling .

The three child actors chosen for the lead roles are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. These are three iconic characters that have been part of the childhood of millions of global audiences and helped Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint become A-list stars from a young age.

HBO said the casting process, which took place in the fall of 2024, attracted more than 32,000 applicants as young as 11 from around the world. The search was led by two experienced casting directors, Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann. After many rigorous auditions, the three finalists won over the production team with their talent and temperament that fit the character.

In a joint statement, series executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said they felt incredibly fortunate to have found the trio of outstanding leads. They called the casting process “extraordinary” and expressed their excitement to introduce the magical transformations of the three young actors to the public. In addition to thanking the tens of thousands of children who participated, the two producers also emphasized that the final selection was the result of a thorough search for faces that were truly suitable in terms of talent and character spirit.

In terms of his resume, Dominic McLaughlin has appeared in the comedy Grow, which is set to be released on Sky, alongside well-known actors such as Nick Frost and Golda Rosheuvel. Arabella Stanton has considerable stage experience, having played Matilda in the musical Matilda: The Musical in London's West End from 2023 to 2024, and also appeared in Starlight Express. Alastair Stout is a complete newcomer, having never acted professionally. However, it was his naturalness and down-to-earth nature that made a strong impression on the selection committee.

With the lead roles in Harry Potter, the three young actors faced a life-changing opportunity. Before that, the film series of the same name had turned Radcliffe, Watson and Grint into global phenomenons, paving the way for long-term film careers.

Their success stems from the enduring appeal of the Hogwarts wizarding universe, which has been ingrained in popular culture for more than two decades. From the first book series published in 1997 to the film released in 2001, Harry Potter has become a leading entertainment brand in the world. The eight films produced by Warner Bros. have grossed more than $7.7 billion at the global box office, making them one of the highest-grossing film series of all time.

Not only did the film create a box office sensation, it also built a loyal fan base, spawning a slew of merchandise, theme parks, and a vast pop cultural legacy.

Therefore, expectations for the TV version are very high.

However, along with the excitement also came a fair amount of controversy over the supporting cast. Among them, the casting of black actor Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape – previously played by the late Alan Rickman – caused mixed reactions from the audience.

Some fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the change in the character's race, saying that this was part of the trend of "blackening" white characters in Hollywood. In addition, John Lithgow - an American actor - was chosen to play Albus Dumbledore, which also caused controversy because many people thought that the role of Hogwarts headmaster should be played by a British person to maintain tradition.

However, the production team has stood by their choices. In particular, author Joanne Rowling – who serves as a consultant and co-producer through Brontë Film and TV – has fully supported the new cast, further cementing the belief that the film will remain true to the original, despite the visual changes.

The new TV series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Emmy-winning Succession director Mark Mylod attached. Filming is expected to begin this summer and run for seven seasons, each corresponding to a different book. Unlike the film version, the TV series is expected to delve deeper into Joanne Rowling’s wizarding world, providing a more complete and faithful experience to what fans have read on the pages.

With a strong production team, a promising new cast, and a solid launch pad from the Harry Potter brand, HBO's television project is expected to write a brilliant new chapter for the wizarding universe - this time on the small screen, but no less magical.

The wizard boy Ron Weasley Harry Potter Rupert Grint years ago, now a father for the second time Keng22:55:26 28/04/2025According to Mirror, a representative confirmed that actor Rupert Grint has become a father for the second time. His girlfriend - Georgia Groome - continued to give birth to their second daughter on April 27. Both mother and baby are healthy.