HBO’s Harry Potter series casts James and Lily Potter — and Charlie Weasley
HBO’s Harry Potter series has cast three new actors in beloved roles — but it’s who they’re playing that’ll get fans talking.
Some casting shake-ups out of the wizarding world today, as that HBO Harry Potter reboot slowly fills itself with fresh faces. If you were hoping for the main Potter parents to be announced before Christmas – well, wish granted. Or, more fittingly, Accio parental casting news.
Harry Potter Season 1 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on December 25.
New Faces for the Potters and Weasleys
Here's the latest batch of confirmed actors: Jasper Talbot and Hannah Chinn are stepping up as James and Lily Potter – so if you remember the faces from grim, rainy flashbacks, that'll be them now. Talbot previously showed up in Broadchurch, so he's already practised being earnest and tragic. Chinn's credits include the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites and the medical drama Malpractice – a curious combo for a future Evans, but there we are.
Over on the Weasley front, Harry Gilby is joining as Charlie – yes, the one who wrangles dragons and doesn't really hang about in the films. Gilby might ring a bell if you saw him as young Tolkien in that 2019 biopic, or more recently as Aethelstan in The Last Kingdom and its sequel film. It's a bit inside, as none of these are exactly franchises for ten-year-olds, but makes for proper telly heritage.
Everyone Else in the New Cast
To catch you up on the already-announced Hogwarts line-up: Dominic McLaughlin is down as Harry himself. Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton are filling in as Ron and Hermione. There's some musical chairs with Ginny Weasley, as Bonnie Hill takes over for season 2 from Gracie Cochrane, who plays her in season 1. That has the air of scheduling or age-up shenanigans, but no official drama attached yet.
- Rafe Spall takes up the Arthur Weasley role from series 2
- Katherine Parkinson is Molly Weasley
- Weasley siblings: Tristan Harland (Fred), Gabriel Harland (George), Ruari Spooner (Percy)
- John Lithgow as Dumbledore
- Janet McTeer as McGonagall
- Paapa Essiedu as Snape
- Nick Frost as Hagrid
The show is properly stacking the big name Brits (plus Lithgow, so a Yank Dumbledore, which has already raised eyebrows in certain corners), and there’s still time to add more before the Hogwarts Express leaves the station.
What to Expect from the Reboot
Officially, season 1 covers the entirety of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – so if you're hoping for fresh takes and deeper dives than the films, there'll be room. HBO has knocked out a synopsis, and it all sounds reassuringly familiar: Harry thinks he's nothing special until a magical school comes calling, childhood traumas are banished by found family, and there's an evil wizard lurking around every dark corner. Standard Hogwarts procedure.
And just to keep the anticipation boiling, the show's been renewed for a second series before the first has even dropped, with Chamber of Secrets up next for adaptation. There’s no news on who’s playing Dobby yet, if you’re collecting that sort of information.