New actors join HBO's Harry Potter series

HBO announced three new cast members for its adaptation of the Harry Potter saga on Tuesday, October 27. Jasper Talbot and Hannah Chinn will portray James and Lily Potter, the parents of Harry.

Actors' previous roles and predecessors

Talbot previously appeared in Broadchurch, while Chinn appeared in Conjuring: The Final Hour. They succeed Adrian Rawlins and Geraldine Somerville, who played the couple in the films, mainly through flashbacks.

New character from the books

A new character announced by HBO is Harry Gilby, who will portray Charlie Weasley, one of Ron's older brothers. Gilby previously appeared in Tolkien and The Last Kingdom. This character, who works with dragons, was never featured in the cinematic adaptations.

Expanding the story

His presence could allow the series to explore more passages from the novels. These three actors join Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron), as well as John Lithgow (Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (McGonagall), Paapa Essiedu (Snape), and Nick Frost (Hagrid).

Returning and new faces

Warwick Davis will reprise his role as Filius Flitwick, while Johnny Flynn will portray Lucius Malfoy. The series, supervised by Francesca Gardiner with Mark Mylod as director, aims to adapt the seven books over several seasons to explore plots and characters left aside by the films.

Controversies and future plans

However, the project remains surrounded by controversy. The choice of Paapa Essiedu to portray Snape has notably sparked racist reactions, while the involvement of J.K. Rowling as executive producer continues to provoke calls for a boycott due to her transphobic statements. HBO is already preparing the sequel, with Kit Harington announced in the role of Gilderoy Lockhart for the second season, dedicated to Chamber of Secrets.

Release date and platform

Harry Potter will be available starting December 25, 2026, on HBO Max.