Casting Peeves for HBO’s Harry Potter TV Remake: 5 Choices Who’d Rival the Movies’ Perfect Cut Actor

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One major character missing from the Harry Potter films is Peeves, a mischievous poltergeist who haunts Hogwarts. While not a ghost, he causes plenty of trouble and even helps out during important events, like when they get rid of Umbridge and during the Battle of Hogwarts. Interestingly, Peeves was originally cast for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Rik Mayall was fully costumed and made up for the role, and several cast members said his wild performance constantly disrupted filming because he was so chaotic.

Unfortunately, the character was removed from the films to streamline the story and keep the runtime manageable, which meant losing a really compelling personality. But the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series has a fresh opportunity to do him justice. The longer format of a TV show allows for a more faithful adaptation, and it could finally allow this character to exist as he’s portrayed in the books. Getting the casting right is crucial, though, especially since the original actor, Rik Mayall, sadly passed away in 2014. Here are five actors who could capture his mischievous and energetic spirit.

5) Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill is a popular choice to play Peeves, largely because of his voice acting. Many fans point to his portrayal of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and the Arkham video games as being very similar to how Peeves would sound. Both the Joker and Peeves share a mischievous personality and enjoy deliberately annoying others.

Mark Hamill’s energetic and dramatic vocal style is perfectly suited for the mischievous poltergeist, Peeves. As he often portrays the Joker – shifting between playful teasing and genuine malice – it’s easy to imagine him embodying Peeves’ chaotic energy, like taunting Umbridge or leading a noisy rebellion at Hogwarts. A computer-generated Peeves with Hamill’s voice could be unsettlingly cheerful, occasionally hinting at a darker side.

4) Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg deserves a spot on this list thanks to his brilliant work in Spaced, especially the character Tim Bisley’s fast-paced, energetic rants. He’s a master of quick, loud dialogue, slapstick comedy, and delivering lines with a playful, mischievous tone. It’s easy to imagine him perfectly capturing the spirit of Peeves, with his rhyming songs and teasing remarks – Pegg frequently demonstrates his talent for playful impressions on talk shows.

In The World’s End, Simon Pegg’s character, Gary King, uses humor as a tool, much like the character Peeves in the Harry Potter series, who often tells jokes not just for fun, but to show he’s in charge, particularly when dealing with Filch and Umbridge. Pegg seems to recognize that effective comedy often needs to be relentless, even if it’s annoying, repetitive, or pushes boundaries.

3) Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen visually resembles Peeves from the Harry Potter books more than any other actor considered for the role. But it’s not just his appearance; Cohen’s history of elaborate pranks and making people in power look foolish also fits the character perfectly. His films like Borat, Brüno, and Who Is America? are full of hilariously awkward situations where people in charge completely fall apart – which is exactly what Peeves does at Hogwarts.

Cohen’s knack for quick wit, creating memorable characters, and intensifying dramatic moments would make him perfect for playing Peeves. He could genuinely surprise and react with the other actors, capturing the character’s chaotic energy and the spirit of the original performance by Mayall.

2) Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis would be a great choice to play Peeves, largely because he’s so good at portraying unpredictable characters. His performance as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings showed a character who was both pitiable and quick to react. Both Peeves and Gollum are essentially tricksters – they act in their own self-interest, rather than being simply good or evil, and can quickly switch between being helpful and causing trouble. Considering how much personality Serkis brought to Gollum, he’d be an ideal fit for Peeves, particularly if the character is created using CGI.

Andy Serkis’ performance in The Adventures of Tintin demonstrates why he’d be perfect for bringing Peeves to life. Captain Haddock’s energetic and over-the-top portrayal – full of wild movements and vocalizations – mirrors how Peeves is often described: a mischievous spirit who zips around and appears right in people’s faces. Using motion capture technology, Serkis could create a Peeves that truly captures the character’s chaotic energy, finally letting fans see iconic moments like Peeves playfully harassing students or cheerfully supporting Fred and George’s antics.

1) Rowan Atkinson

As a film buff, I’ve always felt Rowan Atkinson really captured something special that Rik Mayall brought to his roles – a wonderfully childish sense of mischief. It’s that playful, slightly naughty energy that really shines through in Atkinson’s work, especially as Mr. Bean. He fully commits to the physical comedy, and it’s amazing how he can turn something small and annoying into a huge, hilarious mess – just like a proper troublemaker! It reminds me a lot of the way Peeves operates; it’s the same kind of spirit and approach to causing delightful chaos.

Rowan Atkinson is known for his physical comedy, like Mr. Bean, but his role as Blackadder demonstrates a talent for clever and biting satire, particularly through subtle remarks and well-placed insults. This style is a great fit for the Peeves character we’ve described. Whether played live or created with CGI, Atkinson’s expressive face and ability to convey emotions with small movements would be a huge asset in bringing Peeves, the poltergeist, to life.

Who would you cast as Peeves? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 19:16