First Look: Harry Potter and Hagrid in HBO’s Upcoming Series – Plus Latest Casting News!

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As a passionate Harry Potter fan, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve finally been treated to the first official sneak peeks of our beloved characters, Harry and Hagrid, in the highly anticipated HBO series.

Production for the long-awaited HBO TV series based on J.K. Rowling’s cherished “Harry Potter” books has begun, sparking much debate due to its promised adherence to the original storyline over a ten-year period, stirring up significant controversy.

Filming for the production is currently happening at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which is the same place where the original movies were made. To celebrate this moment, HBO has unveiled the first official photos from the set: one picture with young actor Dominic McLaughlin in his wizarding garb as Harry Potter, and another highlighting Nick Frost in the role of the renowned Rubeus Hagrid.

The show is scheduled to debut on HBO and HBO Max in various regions such as Germany, Italy, the U.K., and other markets where it’s available starting from 2027.

In the initial picture of Dominic McLaughlin portraying Harry Potter, we see a fresh face beaming cheerfully. He’s adorned with the iconic round glasses, wearing the Hogwarts school outfit, and draped in the characteristic wizarding robes that flow gracefully around him.

For the very first time, McLaughlin has donned the costume of “the boy who lived,” a character initially portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter movie franchise from the 2000s.

In this portrayal, Nick Frost takes on the role of Rubeus Hagrid, the gentle half-giant gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor from “Shaun of the Dead.” Clad in Hagrid’s signature oversized robes, sporting a bushy beard and long hair, he embodies the character’s affectionate, loyal nature towards magical creatures. This role, previously brought to life by the late Robbie Coltrane in the films, is beautifully reprised by Frost.

Latest Casting Additions and Ensemble Overview

Apart from the images, HBO also unveiled more cast members for significant supporting roles, expanding upon earlier announcements.

Among the latest cast members are Rory Wilmot taking on the role of Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson portraying Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey stepping into Madam Rolanda Hooch’s shoes, and Anton Lesser assumed the character of Garrick Ollivander.

This squashes earlier rumors that the wand maker would be played by Doctor Who alum Peter Capaldi.

In this diverse lineup, both seasoned actors and fresh talents are united, including Dominic McLaughlin portraying Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton stepping into Hermione Granger’s shoes, John Lithgow assuming the role of Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer taking on Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost playing Rubeus Hagrid, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn becoming Lucius Malfoy, Bel Powley embodying Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby portraying Vernon Dursley, and Katherine Parkinson starring as Molly Weasley.

Various reports additionally mention potential actors for certain roles, including Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge. However, these may change depending on the official announcements made.

Another way to phrase this could be: The choice of actor Paapa Essiedu for the role of Severus Snape has sparked much debate, as some believe that replacing the original character’s ethnicity fundamentally alters the narrative’s integrity.

From a pool of more than 30,000 candidates, McLaughlin, Stout, and Stanton stood out as the selected trio, underscoring the thorough process to find the ideal Golden Trio.

Behind-the-Scenes Team Bringing the Magic to Life

Backstage, the series is supported by an impressive group of professionals in key roles who work together to create the enchanting world: Adriano Goldman (Director of Photography), Cate Hall (Hair & Makeup Designer), Paul Herbert (Stunt Coordinator), Mark Holt (SFX Supervisor), Mara LePere-Schloop (Production Designer), Naomi Moore (Set Decorator), John Nolan (Creature Effects Design Supervisor), Alexis Wajsbrot (VFX Supervisor), Dom Sidoli (VFX Producer), and previously announced Holly Waddington (Costume Designer).

In the creation and supervision of the show, Francesca Gardiner plays a significant role as writer, while Mark Mylod takes on the role of executive producer and director for several episodes.

J.K. Rowling is working alongside Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts from Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman from Heyday Films as executive producers on this project.

HBO, in collaboration with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television, is developing this series. The plan is to adapt all seven books into a complete season each, delving deeply into the original content. Filming for Season 1 is expected to carry on until spring 2026, and shortly after that, Season 2 will commence production.

Series Faces Ongoing Controversy

Although many fans are excited about the first looks at Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, there’s still a lot of debate and disagreement among a large group of fans regarding his casting for this iconic character.

Earlier this year, Essiedu’s casting choice has faced criticism, with critics referring to it as “enforced diversity,” “DEI controversy,” and even “the worst casting ever,” contending that it strays from the book’s depiction of Snape as having a pale complexion, a hooked nose, and being sallow-skinned.

Critics have been accused of holding racial bias, an opinion also shared by Jason Isaacs, a cast member from the original Harry Potter films who portrayed Lucius Malfoy. He praised Essiedu as “one of the finest actors I’ve ever worked with,” encouraging fans to wait until they see his performance before forming an opinion.

Reports suggesting that Essiedu was let go because of public backlash or disagreements with Rowling seem unwarranted, as the author clarified she doesn’t have the power to fire him, and even if she did, she wouldn’t do so, despite his open disagreement with her views on political issues related to gender.

In his performances in shows such as “I May Destroy You” and “Black Mirror,” Essiedu’s talent is widely recognized, but discussions revolve around the balance between staying true to the original work and ensuring diversity in adaptations, which remains a contentious issue.

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2025-07-17 18:57