JK Rowling, 59, issues eight-word statement as HBO Harry Potter TV series finally casts three main roles
JK Rowling has spoken out following HBO’s announcement of the three young actors who will lead its upcoming Harry Potter television series.
Dominic McLaughlin has been cast as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will take on the role of Ron Weasley.
The trio of newcomers will bring Rowling’s beloved characters to life in what HBO promises will be a “faithful adaptation” of the original books, with each season covering one novel in the series.
The announcement comes after months of anticipation from fans worldwide who have been eager to learn who would step into the iconic roles previously portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
The casting process was extensive, with around 32,000 children auditioning for the lead roles. HBO’s team reportedly reviewed up to 1,000 tapes per day during the search.
Executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said in a joint statement: “After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
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“The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen.”
They added: “We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.”
After a Harry Potter fan shared the news on social media, Rowling soon offered her verdict on the pivotal casting.
“Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can’t wait to see the show! We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time,” the fan typed to Rowling. (sic)
The author gave the young trio her seal of approval as she replied to the X user: “All three are wonderful. I couldn’t be happier.”
While all three young actors are described as “newcomers” by HBO, they do have some prior experience.
Stanton, who will play Hermione, is based in London and has performed in West End productions including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical.
Stout, cast as Ron Weasley, has appeared in an Albert Bartlett’s Jersey Royal potato advertising campaign and is noted as having a “northern” accent.
McLaughlin, who will portray Harry Potter, recently filmed the Sky family comedy film Grow, starring Nick Frost, who has also been cast as Rubeus Hagrid in the HBO series. McLaughlin will also feature in the forthcoming BBC action adventure show Gifted.
Several other roles have already been cast for the upcoming show. American actor John Lithgow will portray Hogwarts headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore, whilst British actor Paapa Essiedu has been cast as the cruel Professor Severus Snape.
Janet McTeer will take on the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall, Luke Thallon will play Quirinus Quirrell, and Welsh comedian Paul Whitehouse will portray Argus Filch, the magic-less caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
These actors will step into roles previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Snape), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), and Dame Maggie Smith (McGonagall) in the original film series.
Production will begin at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden in summer 2025, with the first instalment of the reboot potentially airing on HBO Max as early as 2026.
The series is planned as a decade-spanning project that will stream exclusively on HBO Max, where available, including in upcoming launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK.