See the New Actors Side-by-Side with Original Stars

Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter

On May 27, HBO announced that Dominic McLaughlin will make his screen debut starring as the titular character, Harry Potter, a young wizard who navigates life at Hogwarts, making friends (and some foes!) in the process.

For over a decade, Radcliffe famously played the role. He told E! that while he wasn’t going to be in the reboot, he was excited to keep Harry’s legacy going.

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” he said.

Radcliffe added, “But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley

Newcomer Alastair Stout will portray Harry’s best friend Ron Weasley, as revealed by HBO on May 27.

Ron was originally played by Rupert Grint, who expressed his excitement for a potential TV reboot before the project had even received the green light.

“I’d love to see Harry Potter be adapted into a TV show,” Grint told GQ in January 2023. “I think it would really work.”

He also opened up about the idea of someone else taking on his iconic role, saying, “I think there’d be a feeling of passing the baton, letting someone else play Ron.”

“It’s weird because I’m protective over him, I could relate to him so much, and then I was picked to bring him to life,” Rupert said. “That’s hard to let go. But it would be nice to, as well.”

Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger

The beloved Hogwarts trio will be rounded out by newcomer Arabella Stanton, who will play Hermione Granger, a star student at Hogwarts who becomes a close friend of Harry’s, as revealed in HBO’s May 25 announcement.

In a press release announcing the trio’s casting, writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner and co-director Mark Mylod reflected on the “extraordinary search” to find the new generation of Harry, Hermione and Ron.

“The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen,” they wrote.

Prior to joining the Harry Potter franchise, the young star played Matilda Wormwood in Matilda the Musical in London’s West End and the role of Control in Starlight Express at Wembley Park Theatre in Wembley, England.

John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore

Lithgow has been cast as the beloved Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, who was previously played by the late Richard Harris in the first two movies before Michael Gambon took over the part for the latter six films.

In February, Lithgow told ScreenRant that the role “came as a total surprise,” adding that he is “very excited” to get started.

“I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” the Conclave actor said.

He added that the decision was made harder since he’ll be “about 87 years old at the wrap party,” considering each season follows one book, but nonetheless, he said he was looking forward to working with the “wonderful” team.

A month later, Lithgow admitted on the Smartless podcast that he didn’t think playing Dumbledore was “gonna be that hard a job,” despite how pivotal the character is to the series.

That being said, he added that he’s also “behind everybody” as he only now is “halfway through” the second book.

Though he didn’t think playing Dumbledore would be a challenge, describing the character as a sort of “nuclear weapon,” Lithgow added that he was shocked by the number of people that have already approached him since the news of his casting became official.

“Can you believe this has already started?” Lithgow said. “The deal was only set, like, 48 hours ago, and in airports two weeks ago, somehow or other, people had gotten wind of this, and they were stopping me.”

Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall

In early March 2025, sources told Deadline that McTeer, who previously starred as Hera in Netflix’s Kaos, was in negotiations to join the new series as Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts’ transfiguration professor. Her casting was confirmed the following month.

The late Maggie Smith originated the role and played Dumbledore’s right-hand for all eight movies. Meanwhile, McTeer is just a few years younger than Smith was when she was first cast in the part.

The actress has yet to comment on the deal, which will mark her return to HBO after starring in Into the Storm as Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine, a role for which she was nominated for an Emmy.

McTeer has also previously been nominated for an Oscar for her work in Tumbleweeds, which also won her a Golden Globe. Next, she will star in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape

Like McTeer, Paapa Essiedu’s casting as Severus Snape was confirmed by HBO in April 2025.

While Alan Rickman was 54 years old when he originated the role of the potions professor, who has one of the most famous arcs in the whole series, Essiedu will be taking on the role at 34.

According to Deadline, Gardiner shared at a Max event the previous month that the show will be a “faithful adaptation” of the books, meaning the characters would be true to age.

In the series, Snape is meant to be the same age as Lily Potter, making him 31 in the first book.

Similarly to McTeer, this will mark Essiedu’s return to HBO after he previously starred in I May Destroy You opposite Michaela Coel, for which he was nominated for an Emmy.

Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid

On March 25, Deadline reported that Nick Frost is nearing a deal to play Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwarts, and Harry’s (often misguided) mentor and close friend.

Robbie Coltrane, who died in October 2022, was the first to play Hagrid, portraying the beloved half-giant in all eight movies.

Fans first suspected that Frost was taking over the mantle after a cryptic March Instagram post in which the actor wrote, “What a bloody lovely day! It’s happening, it’s actually happening. Stay cool.” They also pointed out that he recently started following Lithgow and then-rumored castmate Essiedu.

The Shaun of the Dead actor previously starred in the AMC series Into the Badlands and will next star in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.

Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell

In April 2025, HBO announced that Luke Thallon would be playing Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirinus Quirrell.

The role was originally played by Ian Hart in the first Harry Potter movie.

Thallon is largely known for his work on stage, though he has had a couple of small roles on screen, including in 2018’s The Favourite.

So far, Thallon has not commented on his casting.

Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch

During HBO’s casting announcement in April, the network also revealed that Paul Whitehouse would be playing Argus Filch.

David Bradley was the first to play the role of the Hogwarts caretaker, appearing in all eight movies.

This isn’t Whitehouse’s first time on a Harry Potter set. He also appeared in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban as Sir Cadogan, one of the knights in the portraits outside of Gryffindor’s common room.

Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley

In June 2025, HBO announced that Parkinson will play Molly Weasley.

Julie Walters was the first to portray the warm, fiercely loving matriarch of the Weasley family, appearing in seven of the eight films.

Parkinson is best known for her role as Jen Barber in The IT Crowd, which earned her a BAFTA Award in 2014.

Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy

Pratt will portray the smug, sharp-tongued and often cruel Draco Malfoy.

“Slytherin all the way!” Pratt wrote on Instagram following HBO’s June 2025 announcement.

Tom Felton, who played Draco in all eight original films, told Bustle in April 2025 that he thinks the reboot is a “fantastic” idea.

“[I’ve] heard — I don’t know this for a fact — but they might be filming it in the same studios as we filmed it, which means that I will hopefully, inevitably get to knock on a dressing room door that says ‘Draco’ and surprise the new kid who’s doing it,” he said.

As for a potential appearance from Felton in the series, he said, “I will definitely be a background extra at the very least. At some point, I’ll wedge my way in there, if I can.”

Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy

HBO cast Johnny Flynn as Draco’s father, Lucius Malfoy.

Jason Isaacs played the cold and calculating figure in six of the Harry Potter films. He’s expecting the reboot series to be “brilliant.”

“There’s gonna be another Lucius Malfoy, and he’s gonna be fantastic, and I’ll be long forgotten,” he said onThe Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast in April 2025. “That’s fine by me. I’ve had a good run.”

After learning of Flynn’s casting, Isaacs congratulated the actor on Instagram.

“Thrilled to be passing the keys to Malfoy Manor to @johnnyflynnmusic, a monstrously talented renaissance man,” he wrote. “Just have some respect for your elders and leave my hair products in the drawers please.”

Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley

Bel Powley will play Harry Potter’s aunt, Petunia Dursley. She will follow in the footsteps of Fiona Shaw, who first played the bitter and emotionally distant woman in four of the eight films.

“I wish them well,” Shaw told PEOPLE in November 2024, referring to the reboot cast. “I mean, can stories be retold? They must be retold over time. It seems to me no time [has passed] since we told it, but maybe it’s [for] a whole new generation.”

Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley

Daniel Rigby has been cast as Harry Potter’s uncle, Vernon Dursley — a narrow-minded, blustering bully who is deeply averse to magic.

The late Richard Griffiths, who died in 2013, originated the role, playing the Dursley patriarch in five of the eight films.

“Thrilled to be playing the world’s worst muggle, Uncle Vernon,” Rigby wrote on Instagram in June 2025.

Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge

Bertie Carvel has been tapped to play Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic.

The late Robert Hardy, who died in 2017, was the first to play the cautious, insecure politician, appearing in four of the eight films.

Carvel is best known for his roles in The Crown and Dalgliesh.

Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil

Alessia Leoni will make her acting debut as Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor student and Harry’s admirer.

Sitara Shah first played Parvati in the Prisoner of Azkaban, before the role was recast. Shefali Chowdhury continued the character’s arc in the fourth, fifth and sixth films.

Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan

Leo Earley will play the cheerful and easygoing Seamus Finnigan, a Gryffindor student who has a knack for accidentally causing explosions.

Actor Devon Murray originated the role, appearing in all eight films.

“In the beginning, I was a little bit jealous, but now I’ve completely warmed up to it,” the actor told Monopoly Events in November 2024 at Comic Con Liverpool, referring to the upcoming HBO series.

“[Initially, I was like,] ‘Oh my God, someone’s going to play Seamus. They’re going to make me look terrible,’ ” he jokingly added.

Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown

Newcomer Sienna Moosah will portray the bubbly Lavender Brown, who is interested in Ron.

Jessie Cave was the first to play Lavender, appearing in the final three Harry Potter films.

“It’s obviously upsetting in part because you’re like, ‘Oh, someone else is going to play my character and it might be even better.’ But it’s also exciting to think there’s a new life for it too,” she told Monopoly Events in November 2024.

Tristan Harland, Gabriel Harland, Ruari Spooner and Gracie Cochrane as the Weasley siblings

Ron’s redheaded siblings were cast in August 2025.

Tristan Harland will play Fred, Gabriel Harland will play George, Ruari Spooner has been cast as Percy and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny.

In the original films, twins James and Oliver Phelps played Fred and George, while Chris Rankin played Percy and Bonnie Wright played Ginny.