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| There are growing indications that HBO’s Harry Potter series is paying particularly close attention to the original novels. |
It has been nearly fourteen years since audiences last saw Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson walk the hallways of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. While the Wizarding World has expanded onto the big screen with Fantastic Beasts, the magic of the original story has remained largely untouched—until now.
HBO’s upcoming television series adaptation of the beloved books is currently one of the most anticipated projects in the entertainment industry. Unlike the Warner Bros. films, which condensed the novels into two-and-a-half-hour features, the plan for the HBO series is to adapt all seven books—each with its own dedicated season. This long-form format alone suggests that significantly more material from the original story will finally make it to the screen.
As production gears up, a flurry of casting news—both confirmed and rumored—is offering fans intriguing hints about the direction the show may take. If the latest whispers are to be believed, the series is aiming to be the definitive, page-to-screen adaptation fans have been dreaming of.
The New Faces of the Golden Trio and Faculty
Officially, HBO has confirmed a fresh set of actors to step into the iconic shoes of the Golden Trio. Dominic McLaughlin is set to portray the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter. He will be joined by Alastair Stout as a young Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as the brilliant Hermione Granger.
The faculty of Hogwarts will also see a changing of the guard. Veteran actor John Lithgow has been tapped to portray Albus Dumbledore, bringing his immense gravitas to the role of the Hogwarts Headmaster. Meanwhile, comedy favorite Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is set to take on the role of the gentle half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, promising a blend of warmth and whimsy for the beloved Keeper of Keys.
Clues in the Supporting Cast: A Return to the Books
While the main cast has generated significant buzz, it is the rumored supporting roles that have the fandom scouring the books for clues. According to a detailed report from Redanian Intelligence, several supporting actors have been tapped for roles, and their specific characters suggest the showrunners are laser-focused on fidelity to J.K. Rowling’s text.
One notable example is Naomi Wirthner (Slow Horses), who is reportedly set to play Madam Malkin, the owner of the robe shop in Diagon Alley. In the very first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it is inside Malkin's shop that Harry first meets Draco Malfoy, a scene rife with tension as Draco pompously discusses Hogwarts houses while being fitted for robes. This moment was completely omitted from the film adaptation. In a delightful piece of casting trivia, Wirthner’s real-life son, Frank Dillane, previously portrayed the young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Another deep-cut detail comes in the form of actor Neil Edmond, who is rumored to be playing a hotel manager at the fictional Railview Hotel. Long-time readers will remember this location as the miserable hideaway where the Dursleys take Harry to escape the deluge of Hogwarts letters. In the book, the desperate family flees to a rickety hotel on an island, but not before a brief and humorous stop at the Railview Hotel. This scene did not appear in the film adaptation.
While restoring moments like the hotel stay or the Madam Malkin scene shows a commitment to enriching the world, the most telling piece of casting news involves Louis Shelton.
The Mirror of Erised: A Detail That Changes Everything
According to reports, Shelton has been cast to play an older version of Ron Weasley. This is a monumental detail for fans of the books. In the first novel, during the iconic Mirror of Erised scene, Harry stumbles upon Ron standing in front of the mirror. Ron sees himself not as he is, but as an older, more successful version of himself: alone, as Head Boy, holding the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup.
The book explicitly describes him as being older, perhaps seventeen or eighteen, and wearing a Head Boy badge. However, in the Warner Bros. film adaptation, Ron appears in the mirror at his current age, simply wearing the Head Boy badge—a slight deviation that many purists noted.
If HBO has indeed cast a separate actor, Louis Shelton, for this brief, non-speaking vision, it suggests an unprecedented level of commitment to the source material. It signals that the creative team is paying attention to the smallest textual details that the movies glossed over.
A New Era of Magic
It would hardly be surprising if the series were to restore moments like these, even if they are not essential to the overall plot. The shift to a serialized format allows for breathing room—time to explore the quieter character moments that make the books so beloved.
With these casting choices, HBO is signaling to the fandom that this iteration of Harry Potter is being built with reverence. From the awkward fitting at Madam Malkin’s to the wistful vision in the Mirror of Erised, the building blocks are being put in place for what could be the most faithful adaptation of the Wizarding World yet.
As production continues, fans will be watching closely to see which other "missing" scenes make the cut. One thing is for certain: the magic is about to feel new again.