Actor Bertie Carvel is set to portray this minor but important character in the HBO Harry Potter series

It is believed that the first season of HBO's Harry Potter show has cast a character who was introduced in the second book, Chamber of Secrets. The character is none other than that of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, who the grapevine suggests will be played by actor Bertie Carvel.

We meet Fudge for the first time in the second book, and even in the same movie, where he was played by actor Robert Hardy. Hardy played the role from the second movie to the fifth one, but wasn't retained for the sixth film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where it would have revealed that Fudge resigned as the Minister, and Rufus Scrimgeour took over from him.

Will Bertie Carvel play Cornelius Fudge in the HBO Harry Potter show?

On June 8, 2025, Deadline reported that actor Bertie Carvel, who is known for his roles in Dalgliesh and The Crown, has been chosen to play the British Wizarding Society's Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in the upcoming Wizarding World show. If he is indeed cast in that role, it would be surprising because Fudge doesn't appear in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Thus, Deadline reached out to HBO representatives for a comment, but refused to do so. Instead, the representatives gave the following statement:

"We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals."

Therefore, based on this statement, we should take this casting story with a grain of salt, despite its reputable source.

Who is Harry Potter Universe's Cornelius Fudge?

However, setting him up in the very first season is prudent because it would make sense when his character takes an antagonistic turn in season 5, which will be adapting the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

While the character never joined the bad side, the books make it clear that he is an incompetent leader, whose mistakes resulted in Voldemort getting the ground support required to take over the Wizarding World in the seventh book.

What is the series about?

A faithful adaptation of the seven Potter books for HBO was officially confirmed on April 12, 2023. This news was received well by the fans of the series, who were disappointed with the movies' exclusion of certain important details from the books. Confirming that each season will adapt one book, HBO executive Casey Bloys released this statement:

"We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way. Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years."

While the show is yet to begin filming, production is set to begin this summer, and the main trio has also been cast. Arabella Stanton, Alastair Stout, and Dominic McLaughlin were cast as Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter, respectively.

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