HBO just dropped the hottest casting news of the century: they’ve officially revealed the new trio to play our favorite wizards and witches in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Spoiler alert: It’s not your childhood faves—sorry Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, your reign is over.
First up, the boy who lived, Harry Potter, will now be played by the one and only Dominic McLaughlin. Cue the dramatic music—who’s that, you ask? Well, clearly he’s the perfect fit because he’s probably got magic up his sleeve that none of us have discovered yet.
Next, the brightest witch of her age, Hermione Granger, is being brought to life by Arabella Stanton. Let’s be real, she probably aced the “How to Be a Know-It-All” exam in her sleep.
And last but not least, the red-haired, freckle-faced, and perpetually-slightly-awkward Ron Weasley will be played by drumroll Alastair Stout. Yes, Stout—which I’m guessing is a fitting name for a guy who’s about to carry the emotional weight of being the third wheel to Harry and Hermione. But hey, every trio needs a “Ron,” right?
Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod were basically popping bottles when they announced the casting: “After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are so thrilled to have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. These actors are about to make your childhood dreams come true, and we can’t wait for you all to see their wizardry in action.” (Okay, but real talk—tens of thousands of kids auditioned for these roles. Imagine the pressure.)
This series is going to be a super-accurate (we hope!) adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s original Harry Potter books, so we’re talking maximum magic and minimal filler. Each season will bring new spells, dragons, and, of course, awkward teenage moments to HBO Max audiences worldwide. And don’t worry, the classic films aren’t going anywhere, so you can still relive the magic of those awkwardly dated CGI effects whenever you want. (We see you, Goblet of Fire’s CGI dragons.)
And just in case you were wondering, HBO’s new Hogwarts faculty includes some heavy hitters. John Lithgow is stepping in as Albus Dumbledore—because who else could deliver those cryptic speeches like he’s casting a spell on the audience? Janet McTeer is our new Professor McGonagall (don’t mess with her, kids), Paapa Essiedu as Snape (cue the hair flip), and Nick Frost as Hagrid (let’s be real, he’s perfect). Oh, and there’s also Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, because nothing says “I’m ready for this role” like being permanently grumpy and suspicious of magic.
Production starts this summer, which means we’ll all be waiting (and probably re-reading the books for the 37th time) until this magical show graces our screens. Get ready, witches and wizards—HBO’s Harry Potter is about to make Hogwarts cooler than ever.
