HBO has officially announced the casting of the three main roles for its eagerly awaited Harry Potter TV series. Following a rigorous worldwide open casting call that attracted more than 30,000 aspiring actors, Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. Production on the series is set to begin this summer.
“Everyone here is delighted to welcome our new Harry, Hermione, and Ron,” wrote showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer-director Mark Mylod in a joint statement. “The enthusiasm, richness, and charisma that these young actors have brought is simply exceptional. We offer our warmest thanks to the tens of thousands of children who auditioned — it’s been inspiring to witness such an abundance of talent.”
Though mostly unknown to mass audiences, the trio possesses promising credentials. As reported by Variety, McLaughlin recently appeared in the forthcoming Sky sitcom Grow alongside Nick Frost. Stanton starred in the lead role in Matilda: The Musical on London’s West End. The series marks Stout’s first major screen role.
The original film roles famously launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the early 2000s. HBO is hoping to recreate some of that magic with this new cast.
Supporting Star-Studded Cast
The three are part of a cast comprising John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.
Production and Creative Team
The series is produced in association with Bront Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. Gardiner is a writer and showrunner, with Mylod directing several episodes. Author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman are executive producers.
Controversy Surrounds Rowling
J.K. Rowling remains involved with the series despite ongoing criticism of her opinions on the transgender community. HBO content chief Casey Bloys addressed the matter, stating that Rowling’s opinions are her own and do not reflect the content of the show.
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