HBO has cast several more key roles its Harry Potter TV series — including the Malfoys and the Dursleys.
The TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series has announced nine actors playing key roles for its first season tackling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The cast includes (from left to right in the photo below) Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius. Fudge
In keeping with the show’s commitment to have its characters closer to the ages in the books, the actors playing Harry’s muggle aunt and uncle look a bit younger — at least, when out of character — than the Vernon and Petunia in the Warner Bros. films (who were played by Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw). In the books, the duo are in their mid-thirties when the story begins with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The nine join many previously announced castmembers, which include Emmy winner John Lithgow (Conclave) as Hogwarts’ wise and warm Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Oscar nominee Janet McTeer (Ozark) as stern Transfiguration Professor Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu (Black Mirror) will take on the role of the sneering Potions Professor Severus Snape, Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) will play the lumbering Hogwarts gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid. In addition, stage actor Luke Thallon will play Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrel and Paul Whitehouse (Harry & Paul) has been cast as the curmudgeonly caretaker Argus Filch.
They join the previously announced kids’ cast: Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton is Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout is the new Ron Weasley.
HBO’s plan is to adapt each of Rowling’s seven novels into a season of television. HBO has also rereleased a statement about the adaptation and its place in the Harry Potter universe: “The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling and will feature an exciting and talented cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have adored for over 25 years. Exploring every corner of the wizarding world, each season will bring Harry Potter and its incredible adventures to new and existing audiences and will stream exclusively on Max where it’s available globally, including upcoming markets such as Turkey, the U.K., Germany and Italy, among others. The original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch around the world.”
Francesca Gardiner is showrunner and executive producer, and Mark Mylod is the director of multiple episodes and executive producer. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
