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HBO's long-awaited Harry Potter TV series has found its Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. British actors Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby have been cast as Petunia and Vernon Dursley in the small-screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling's iconic book series, reports Variety. This comes as the series continues to add to its cast, with the casting of their son, Dudley, still awaited.
Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter's mother's sister, and Vernon are infamous for their cruel behavior towards Harry, whom they keep after the accidental death of his parents. In the original movies, these characters were immensely popularized by Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths.
Powley and Rigby are among the cast swelling, including Dominic McLaughlin in Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The adult cast also has a galaxy of stars, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall.
HBO's adaptation promises to give a true retelling of the source books with Francesca Gardiner as showrunner and Mark Mylod helming several episodes. The production is currently in pre-production, and no other casting announcements are expected soon as the shoot date draws near.
The casting announcement and its importance
The announcement of Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby playing the Dursleys is a major development for the Harry Potter TV series. Variety broke the news exclusively, announcing that the actors will portray two of the most iconic (albeit not always favorite) characters from the books.
This choice of casting is interesting in that the Dursleys are key figures in the initial chapters of Harry's saga, conditioning his path from an unwanted child to a hero.
The actors chosen for these parts have credible television and film credentials. This leads us to believe HBO wants both authenticity and new interpretations. Casting for the role of Dudley Dursley is still awaited, and fans wonder who will become a part of the cast as Harry's cousin.
Meet the New Dursleys: Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby
Bel Powley is a London-born, London-raised English actress who has appeared in film and television. She received critical acclaim for her performances in "A Royal Night Out" (Princess Margaret) and "The Diary of a Teenage Girl," with which she received the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress and the Trophée Chopard at Cannes.
She was more recently featured in television series like "Masters of the Air" and "The Morning Show". Her small stature, smiling face, and blue eyes are some of her distinctive features.
Daniel Rigby was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester. He is a comedian and actor who has had a wide-ranging career on stage, screen, and radio. He was awarded a BAFTA TV Award for his performance as Eric Morecambe in the BBC drama film "Eric and Ernie," defeating popular actors such as Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Rigby has also performed as a stand-up comedian and has appeared on many television shows, including "Lilies," "Black Mirror," and "Renegade Nell." His experiences in comedy and drama make him eligible to portray Vernon Dursley.
The broader cast of Harry Potter and the production details
The Harry Potter TV show is rounding out its cast beyond the Dursleys impressively. Albus Dumbledore is played by John Lithgow, according to Radio Times; Janet McTeer is Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu is Severus Snape, Nick Frost is Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon is Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse is Argus Filch.
The three young leads—Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron)—will advance the story. The show is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, who has worked on "Killing Eve" and "Succession," and directed by Mark Mylod on several episodes.
Executive producers are also J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman, a long-time Harry Potter franchise producer. The series is a production of HBO in co-production with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. So far, the series is in pre-production, with further casting announcements due to come soon.
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