The Hogwarts Express is making a stop at the Casting Depot! Reports are swirling faster than a Firebolt that Nick Frost—yes, the hilarious genius from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz—is this close to locking in the role of Hagrid in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series. And honestly? We’re SO here for it.
According to Deadline (which, let’s be real, is basically the Sorting Hat of Hollywood news), the beloved British actor is on the brink of taking over the oversized boots of everyone’s favorite half-giant, previously played to perfection by the late, great Robbie Coltrane.
Now, Frost didn’t explicitly say, “Oi, I’m Hagrid now,” but he did drop a rather cryptic Instagram post, writing: “What a bloody lovely day! It’s happening, it’s actually happening. Stay cool.” Which, let’s be honest, sounds exactly like something Hagrid would say before smuggling a fire-breathing creature into Hogwarts.
If this casting goes through, it’ll be a major Accio Nostalgia moment for fans. Hagrid, after all, is the warm, fuzzy (and probably slightly smelly) heart of the franchise. He’s the first magical person to welcome Harry into the Wizarding World, the best pet dad to a concerning number of dangerous creatures, and the ultimate BFF material—if you don’t mind surprise gifts that could bite your face off.
As for Nick Frost? Well, he’s no stranger to epic franchises. He recently lent his voice to Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and will soon be seen in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (which, considering Hagrid’s love for “adorable” beasties, is basically method acting at this point).
So, is this casting a done deal? Not yet. But with the amount of online hype, it looks like fans are ready to grab their pink umbrellas, head to the Forbidden Forest, and welcome Nick Frost to the Wizarding World with open, bear-sized arms.
Now, who do we bribe with a few Butterbeers to get Simon Pegg as Dumbledore?
