Image: John Lithgow [@hbo] / Professor Dumbledore [Warner Bros. Entertainment]
The official cast for several iconic Harry Potter characters in the upcoming series has now been announced! HBO and streaming service MAX have confirmed what has been speculated about for months. On top of that, production is set to begin this summer, with a total of seven seasons planned - one for each book.
On one hand, the series will naturally have some very big shoes to fill due to the hugely popular film franchise. On the other hand, the author of the famous fantasy book series, J.K. Rowling, recently sparked renewed criticism with a social media post on International Asexuality Day.
Important: We want to clearly state that we distance ourselves from J.K. Rowling’s statements against any LGBTQIA+ minorities. This article is intended solely to inform about developments within the franchise.
Cast: Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall return
The faces of the above-mentioned characters are now so well-known that imagining other actors in their roles may feel strange at first. However, you might already recognize these new cast members from other films or series.
Professor Dumbledore will be portrayed in the series by American actor John Lithgow. He previously played Winston Churchill in "The Crown", and has also shown his talent in films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Conclave".
Professor Snape will now be played by British actor Paapa Essiedu, known from series like "Gangs of London" and films like "The Outrun".
The strict but lovable Professor McGonagall will be played by Janet McTeer in the new adaptation. She is likely a familiar face to many, having appeared in the Netflix series "Ozark", Marvel’s "Jessica Jones", and films like "Me Before You" and "The Menu".
Also joining the cast are Nick Frost as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch. Who will take on the roles of the iconic trio - Harry, Ron, and Hermione - has not yet been officially announced.
The cast was introduced on social media with the following message, followed by a list of the actors and their roles:
"Wands at the ready, we welcome our staff to Hogwarts."
Let’s see how the series continues to develop.
