New cast members and first looks revealed as Harry Potter TV series begins production

Wands at the ready, wizards and witches. Production has officially begun on the new Harry Potter television series, nearly 14 years to the day since the final Harry Potter film landed in cinemas.

HBO announced on Tuesday it had started filming the highly anticipated TV adaptation at the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK – the same area where the eight original films were shot.

The new Harry Potter has officially landed at Hogwarts.Credit: HBO via AP

The network also released its first photo of Dominic McLaughlin as the new Harry Potter, replete with the classic Hogwarts uniform and cape, shaggy black hair, round-rim glasses and signature lightning bolt scar. At a glance, the 11-year-old appears the spitting image of Daniel Radcliffe when he starred in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone nearly 24 years ago.

So, now that production is well and truly under way, and we’re one step closer to re-entering the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry, let’s take a look at exactly what we can expect from the upcoming series.

Who will be in it?

When the television adaptation was announced in 2023, the first question on everyone’s mind was: “Who will play the iconic trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron?”

According to HBO, 32,000 children auditioned for the lead roles following an open casting call in September. In late May, it was announced that McLaughlin would take on the titular role, alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin (centre) and Alastair Stout, who will portray Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in the HBO series Harry Potter.Credit: HBO

Other high-profile stars will join the three tweens on screen, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.

Lox Pratt and Johnny Flynn will make up the Malfoy family, the former as Harry’s school nemesis Draco and the latter as Lucius. Other Hogwarts students include Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown. Variety also reported that Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby will play Petunia and Vernon Dursley, Harry’s neglectful muggle aunt and uncle.

On Tuesday, a new round of actors was announced. Rory Wilmot will play Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson will be Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey will embody Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser will take on Garrick Ollivander.

What will it be about?

According to HBO, the new series will be “a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter books”, and “will feature an exciting and talented cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have adored for over 25 years”.

Dominic McLaughlin could easily be mistaken for an 11-year-old Daniel Radcliffe.Credit: HBO via AP

The TV show is therefore expected to resemble the original eight films relatively closely, meaning it will follow Harry’s discovery that he is a wizard, his departure from his muggle family, his entry to Hogwarts, his adventures alongside Hermione and Ron, and his near-death encounters with He Who Shall Not Be Named (aka the big bad, Lord Voldemort).

However, since TV series usually end up being significantly longer than feature films, the series is expected to explore more of the books’ plot lines in greater detail. Each of the seven Harry Potter novels will make up an entire season.

How do people feel about it so far?

Anticipation for the newest adaptation has been steadily building since its announcement in 2023. However, some fans of the films have expressed disappointment over how starkly similar the production shots are to that of the original screen adaptation.

“There is … a thesis to be written on the autocannibalism of pop culture,” one X user wrote. “The evolution of pop culture from ‘new things based on old things’ (Star Wars) to ‘new takes on old things’ (Tim Burton’s Batman) to ‘new versions of old things that look just like the old things’.”

This is compounded by the controversy around J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels. She has been accused of transphobia for her views on gender identity and for suggesting that trans issues affect women’s rights.

Over the years, Rowling has contributed money to anti-trans crowdfunding campaigns and also vocally opposed Scotland’s gender recognition bill in 2022. She donated £70,000 ($143,700) to For Women Scotland, which launched a legal challenge that resulted in the UK Supreme Court ruling in April that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

Her views have led some fans to boycott the Harry Potter franchise, including its books, the movies, the video game Hogwarts Legacy, and presumably also the upcoming TV adaptation.

Meanwhile, others are questioning whether the TV remake is necessary given the major success of both the books and the eight films.

“Irrespective of J.K. Rowling, this remake is so redundant,” one X user wrote, to which another commented: “Is it a remake, or an expansion of the story that wasn’t told in the books/movies? If it is just a made-for-TV remake, then no. Completely unnecessary. Go watch the movies.”

Is J.K. Rowling involved?

The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, which some fans believe suggests she will be more involved in the upcoming series compared to the films.

“I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!” Rowling wrote on X in June. Replying to a comment asking whether she wrote any of the series’ scripts, she said, “no, but I’ve worked closely with the extremely talented writers.”

The original Harry Potter trio: Daniel Radcliffe (left), Rupert Grint (centre) and Emma Watson (right).

Beyond Rowling, the show will be led by Francesca Gardiner and directed by Mark Mylod, both of whom worked on Succession.

When can we watch season one?

The first season is expected to debut on HBO Max in 2027. According to Variety, shooting on season one is expected to last until the autumn of 2026, with season two then going into production after a short break.

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