'Harry Potter': HBO reveals 1st cast members for new TV series
Signed 'Harry Potter' book bought for a penny to be auctioned off
A first-edition Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book that was signed by J.K. Rowling and purchased for only a penny could be auctioned off for as much as $2,700.
LOS ANGELES - The beloved "Harry Potter" franchise is becoming a TV series.
HBO announced its first selected cast members for the series in a press release on Monday.
‘Harry Potter’ TV series cast members revealed
What we know:
According to HBO, the "Harry Potter" TV series has cast six-time Emmy and two-time Tony Award winner John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore.
Lithgow has starred in many projects including, "The Crown," "The World According to Garp," and "Terms of Endearment."
In addition, Janet McTeer was cast as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu was cast as Severus Snape and Nick Frost will serve as Rubeus Hagrid.
Newly announced guest and recurring cast members included Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and five-time BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.
What we don't know:
So far, it’s still unclear who will be cast as some of HBO series’ biggest characters – namely Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
What they're saying:
We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life," said Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner and executive producer.
About HBO’s "Harry Potter’ TV series
Dig deeper:
According to the television network, the series is expected to be a "faithful adaptation" of the "Harry Potter" book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling.
Actors Emma Watson (L) Maggie Smith (M) and Daniel Radcliffe (R) on the set of the film, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', London, England, 2006. (Credit: Murray Close/ Getty Images)
"[The series] will feature an exciting and talented cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have adored for over 25 years," HBO said.
The series will stream exclusively on Max where it’s available globally, including upcoming markets such as Turkey, the UK, Germany, and Italy, among others.
The backstory:
The forthcoming HBO series was announced more than a decade after the movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" part two came out in 2011.
RELATED: 'Harry Potter' TV series based on original books in the works
The seven original Harry Potter books were published between 1997 and 2007. Eight blockbuster films were released between 2001 and 2011. There are also three Fantastic Beasts films, the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," as well as four theme park lands.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by a press release by HBO, released on April 14, 2025. This story was reported from Los Angeles.