Who's Going to Be in the "Harry Potter" Series? See the Rumored New Actors Side-by-Side with the Original Cast 

03/26/2025 02:20 PM

The highly anticipated HBO 'Harry Potter' series has started casting some of its most iconic roles

• HBO's new Harry Potter series was first confirmed in 2023 with each season meant to encapsulate one book
• John Lithgow is the only confirmed actor so far, set to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore
• Nick Frost, Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu are reportedly in talks to star as various Hogwarts professors

The new Harry Potter show has been keeping its chamber of secrets closed when it comes to casting — until now.

The beloved book series by J.K. Rowling will be adapted for the screen once again, but this time it'll be getting a more in-depth treatment as a TV show, with each season slated to capture one of the seven books, per Bloomberg.

While some of the original cast have spoken out about their hopes to return to the wizarding world, others have confirmed they didn't have plans to reprise their roles.

Related: HBO's Harry Potter TV Series: What We Know About the New Adaptation (and Which Actor Says He Won't Be Making a Return — for Now)

"Like the rest of the world, [I'm] very excited to watch as an audience member," Daniel Radcliffe, who originated the titular role, told E! in May 2024. "I don't know if it would work to have us do anything in it."

Now, John Lithgow has been the only cast member confirmed so far, while a few actors are nearing deals, with Deadline reporting in March 2025 that Nick Frost, Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu are in talks.

So who is joining the cast of the new Harry Potter series? Here's a look at the actors that have been cast so far side-by-side with those who originated the roles.

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.

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 would 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 is still in talks as the actor is reportedly nearing a deal, per Deadline.

"We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation," HBO previously told PEOPLE in a statement regarding casting. "As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals."

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 would be taking on the role at 34.

According to Deadline, writer-showrunner Francesca 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

The latest casting news for Harry Potter was announced on March 25 when 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 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.