Whether you’re excited about it or not, Harry Potter fever is once again taking over Hollywood—this time with a highly anticipated TV series set to dominate screens for the next decade.
HBO and Warner Bros. are spearheading the project, and as they put it, the series has been “drawing a lot of rumour and speculation” regarding who will portray its main characters.
The upcoming series will serve as a fresh adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s book franchise, with each season covering one book. This means a completely new cast will step into roles previously made famous by actors such as Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, and Maggie Smith.
Casting calls for the three young leads opened in September 2024, and unknown actors are expected to gain widespread recognition upon being selected to play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.
Meanwhile, established actors are being considered for the adult roles. While no official casting announcements have been made, speculation is running rampant. Here are the actors reportedly in talks for key roles in the series.
Albus Dumbledore
On Wednesday, February 12, reports surfaced that John Lithgow is in final negotiations to portray Hogwarts’ headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. If confirmed, this could suggest that Mark Rylance—who was rumored to be a top contender—declined the role.
Lithgow’s potential casting follows comments from Gary Oldman, who portrayed Sirius Black in the original films, stating that he would be open to playing Dumbledore. Another name reportedly in the mix is Mark Strong.
When The Independent asked Jared Harris—son of Richard Harris, the original Dumbledore—whether he would be interested in joining the series, his response was notably unenthusiastic.
Severus Snape
Another actor rumored to be in talks for a major role is Gangs of London and The Lazarus Project star Paapa Essiedu, who is reportedly in final discussions to play Severus Snape.
Essiedu has established himself as one of Britain’s most promising rising stars, delivering acclaimed performances both on-screen and on-stage (A Number at The Old Vic and The Effect at the National Theatre).
While committing to a long-running series would mean passing up other high-profile roles, Essiedu would be a compelling choice for what is arguably Rowling’s most layered character.
Minerva McGonagall
As of March 7, it has been reported that the frontrunner for the role of Transfiguration professor Minerva McGonagall—originally played by the late Dame Maggie Smith—is Janet McTeer.
The Oscar-nominated actor, known for her role in Netflix’s now-canceled Kaos, is currently in negotiations. Other names that have been floated include Irish actor Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) and Rachel Weisz (The Favourite), though McTeer is currently considered the top choice.
HBO’s Harry Potter Series Potential CastingRubeus Hagrid
One of the most unexpected casting rumors is that Brett Goldstein, best known for Ted Lasso and Shrinking, is being considered for the role of Rubeus Hagrid.
Goldstein’s name being linked to the beloved Hogwarts groundskeeper—previously played by the late Robbie Coltrane—has caught many by surprise. However, industry reports suggest he is being seriously considered for the part.
Aunt Petunia Dursley
Despite reportedly working on multiple new projects for Prime Video, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is rumored to be in talks for the role of Aunt Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter’s spiteful aunt.
According to insider DanielRPK, Waller-Bridge has been offered the role, which was previously played by Fiona Shaw in the original films.
Lord Voldemort
With the reboot comes the need for a new Voldemort, and rumors suggest Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy is being considered for the role.
The speculation has gained so much traction that former Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes was asked for his thoughts on Murphy potentially taking over. Speaking on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Fiennes responded, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian.”
However, newer reports indicate that Murphy is actually being lined up to play Professor Quirrell in the first season rather than Voldemort.
Sirius Black
Although Sirius Black doesn’t appear until the third book, speculation about who will play Harry’s godfather is already circulating.
Ben Barnes, known for his roles in The Chronicles of Narnia and Shadow and Bone, has been frequently mentioned as a possible choice.
When asked about the rumors, Barnes told, “It’s been going on for 20 years that people have been very kindly saying that they would’ve liked me to have played a young version of the Sirius Black character in Harry Potter, but now it’s been going on so long that I’m now the age of the actual character in the books.”
He continued, “They’re books that I love, and at least half of my career has been based on literary adaptations that I’ve loved. And [Harry Potter], I see no reason why it would be any different, but I haven’t spoken to anyone about it yet.”
Molly Weasley / Ollivander
A Reddit user claiming to be a TV industry insider has alleged that Jessica Hynes and Peter Capaldi have both been contacted about potential roles in the series, with filming set to begin in the summer of 2026.
While the specific roles remain unconfirmed, speculation suggests that Hynes could take on the part of Molly Weasley, originally played by Julie Walters, while former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi may portray Ollivander, the enigmatic wandmaker previously played by John Hurt.