Harry Potter cast and character guide: Who will play whom in the upcoming HBO series?

Harry Potter is returning to our screens in a whole new way as HBO’s ambitious decade-long series is set to reimagine the beloved books chapter by chapter. The series will give every plotline, side quest, and obscure magical creature the breathing room it deserves. And now, the biggest question fans have been whispering about in common rooms and internet forums alike is finally getting answers: who’s playing whom?

From a fresh-faced Golden Trio plucked out of thousands of auditions to heavyweight stage and screen veterans stepping into the robes of Hogwarts’ most iconic professors, the casting announcements are big news. They have already sent shockwaves through the fandom. Whether you’re bracing for a brand-new Snape, eager to meet the next generation’s Harry, or curious about which familiar British legends are sneaking back into the castle, we have you covered. Here’s your look at the cast that will bring Hogwarts back to life.

---

Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter

Dominic McLaughlin is stepping in as Harry Potter. Potter is the protagonist of the franchise, and the seven books tell the story of his seven years in and around Hogwarts. Having grown up around Muggles (non-magical humans), Potter was admitted to Hogwarts on his eleventh birthday and slowly learned about his magical history and his parents.

Before the show, the actor will be seen in 2025’s Grow, opposite Nick Frost and Joe Wilkinson.

---

Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger

Arabella Stanton is now Hogwarts’ brightest witch as the actress steps in as Hermione Granger. A Muggle-born witch, Hermione is known as the smartest witch in her class, who loves reading and is always well prepared for any exam. She’s in the same house as Harry Potter—Gryffindor—and often wins the house plenty of points.

This will be Stanton’s first on-screen role, but the actress has previously worked on Matilda The Musical and Starlight Express on stage.

---

Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley

Alastair Stout is playing Ronald Weasley, the youngest boy among the Weasley children and Harry Potter’s best friend. Although Ron can be airheaded sometimes, he is a brilliant chess player and is Hermione and Harry’s go-to person for anything magical. He belongs to a family of wizards and has six siblings.

This will be Stout’s first known role in any project.

---

John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore

Hogwarts has a new headmaster — and it’s John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster is known as the most powerful wizard in the magical world, but stays humble in his Hogwarts headmaster chair. Full of secrets, playful banter, and mystique, Dumbledore orchestrates a lot of the events in the series and is one of the most important characters in the franchise.

Lithgow is the recipient of two Tony Awards, one for his Broadway debut in The Changing Room and another for Sweet Smell of Success. The actor has an impressive stage résumé and is also acclaimed for TV roles in Dexter, The Crown, Perry Mason, and The Old Man, earning Emmy wins and Oscar nominations. He also has a prolific film career, from All That Jazz to Conclave.

---

Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall

Janet McTeer will be playing Transfiguration professor Minerva McGonagall. Always in sleek robes and a tight bun, McGonagall is witty and sharp, but at the same time kind to Harry. She is the head of Gryffindor House and spends a lot of time dealing with the antics of the trio. She has been at Hogwarts for many decades and even taught Harry Potter’s parents while they were students.

The actress has earned Olivier and Tony acclaim for A Doll’s House. Her film career shines with Oscar-nominated roles in Tumbleweeds and Albert Nobbs. The other memorable works include Wuthering Heights, Velvet Goldmine, The Divergent Series, and The Menu. On television, she has worked on The Governor, Into the Storm, Damages, The White Queen, Jessica Jones, and Ozark.

---

Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape

Paapa Essiedu will be playing Potions Master Severus Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter. As one of the most important roles in the series, Essiedu’s portrayal will effectively shape the plot in more than one way. Snape is a complicated character — seen as both an antagonist and an ally — making it difficult to land on one side. Harry Potter has a bitter relationship with Snape, who often chides and mocks him, leading Harry to believe that Snape has a vendetta against him.

Essiedu has previously been seen in I May Destroy You, which earned him an Emmy nomination. He has also worked on Anne Boleyn, Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, and Black Mirror: Demon 79.

He made his film debut in Murder on the Orient Express and has also worked on Men, Genie, and The Outrun.

---

Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid

Our newest gamekeeper and professor for Care of Magical Creatures, Rubeus Hagrid, in the Harry Potter series, is Nick Frost. Hagrid is one of Harry’s best friends and, in more ways than one, a parental figure to him. Hagrid cannot do magic but is an animal lover, often taking his love for magical creatures too far.

This year, Frost starred in Paramount’s How to Train Your Dragon live-action film, and also has a film alongside none other than Dominic McLaughlin this year, called Grow.

---

Supporting cast of the Harry Potter series

Apart from the Hogwarts professors and the Golden Trio, HBO’s Harry Potter has a few more wizards and witches up its sleeves, such as:

• Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
• Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
• 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
• Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge
• Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom
• Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley
• Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch
• Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander

---

Why have some castings not been revealed yet

The HBO Harry Potter series is playing the long game, and honestly, it’s a smart move. While the wizarding world buzzes with excitement over casting announcements, many of the key characters fans crave probably haven’t been officially cast yet. There’s good reason for that. Unconfirmed roles include:

• Lily and James Potter
• Sirius Black
• Remus Lupin
• Peter Pettigrew
• Padma Patil
• Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle
• Arthur Weasley
• Ginny Weasley
• Bill, Charlie, and Percy Weasley
• Fred and George Weasley
• Dean Thomas
• Cho Chang
• Bellatrix Lestrange
• Dolores Umbridge
• and most importantly, Lord Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle

Most of these legendary characters aren’t showing up on casting lists yet, likely because their grand entrances are meant to hit us later in the Harry Potter saga.

And the ultimate question: who will embody Lord Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle? While his shadow looms early, the true face of evil only appears in the fourth movie. Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the films, was cast later in the series. Maybe for the show, the actor’s already been picked — but the timing to unveil the Dark Lord’s new form? That’s a secret only HBO knows.

---

More details on the Harry Potter TV series are awaited for now.