First Look at Dominic McLaughin as HBO’s Harry Potter

The show’s team has also announced new casting, including ‘Andor’s Anton Lesser as Ollivander and ‘Such Brave Girls’ Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch.

Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in 'Harry Potter' (TV series). Image courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO.

Preview:

The HBO ‘Harry Potter’ series has unveiled the first look at its title character.
And Anton Lesser, Louise Brealey, Rory Wilmot and Amos Kitson join the cast.
The show will be on screens in 2027.

While we have already seen an image of ‘Harry Potter’ TV series star Dominic McLaughlin as Harry alongside his co-stars Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger) and Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley).

Now we have the first look at McLaughlin in his Hogwarts robes as the show has now entered production, along with a new set of casting choices.

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Probably the best-known names of the latest ensemble members are Anton Lesser, recently seen in ‘Andor’, who has landed the role of wand shop proprietor Garrick Ollivander, and ‘Such Brave Girls’Louise Brealey, playing Madam Rolanda Hooch, the Hogwarts flying instructor and Quidditch referee.

What’s the story of the ‘Harry Potter’ TV series?

(L to R) Emma Watson as Hermione Granger,Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2' (2011). Photo: Warner Bros.

Here’s the official HBO statement on the show:

“The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. It will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters ‘Harry Potter’ fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring ‘Harry Potter’ and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”

Gardiner scored the job of showrunner after HBO conducted an extensive search for the right writer/producer. Mylod will direct multiple episodes of the series, having worked on the likes of ‘Succession’ and ‘Game of Thrones.’

The show will be shot at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios facility outside London in the UK, where the movies were made.

Who else has been cast in the ‘Harry Potter’ series?

'Harry Potter' TV series cast (from left to right): John Lithgow (Credit: Jessica Howes), Janet McTeer (Credit: Andrew Crowley), Paapa Essiedu (Credit: Ruth Crafer), Nick Frost (Credit: Lee Malone), Luke Thallon (Credit: Phil Sharp), Paul Whitehouse (Credit: Mike Marsland).

Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby are playing Petunia and Vernon Dursley, AKA Harry’s aunt and uncle, who begrudgingly take the boy in as a baby following the death of his parents at the hands of Voldemort.

The couple –– who dote on overweight son Dudley (who we now know will be played by Amos Kitson) –– make Harry sleep in a cupboard under the stairs and have no time for the magical world he’ll come to be a key part of.

Katherine Parkinson, meanwhile, has scored the role of Molly Weasley, the caring, offbeat mother of the Weasley clan, who come to see Harry as a member of the family).

Bertie Carvel is on board as Cornelius Fudge, the blustering Minister of Magic.

Lox Pratt will be Draco Malfoy (Harry’s main rival at Hogwarts) and Johnny Flynn is playing Lucius Malfoy, his preening, proud father.

We also know that Leo Earley will be Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni scored the role of Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah is playing Lavender Brown, all three of them students at Hogwarts.

Previously, we learned that John Lithgow would be Albus Dumbledore, alongside Janet McTeer (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Paapa Essiedu (as Severus Snape) and Nick Frost (bringing gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid to screens), and they’ll make up part of the series regular cohort alongside the young newcomers.

Stage actor Luke Thallon (whose main screen credit so far has been a tiny role in 2018’s ‘The Favourite’) and UK comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse (who US audiences might know from ‘The Death of Stalin’ but also has ‘Potter’ form after playing Sir Cadogan in third movie ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban'), as recurring guest stars.

Thallon has nabbed the role of Professor Quirinus Quirrell, a key part of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone,’ while Whitehouse is set to play Hogwarts caretaker and grumpy cat owner Argus Filch, who pops up throughout the stories.

What about the J.K. Rowling issue?

(L to R) Emma Watson and J. K. Rowling at the premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.' Photo: Warner Bros.

‘Potter’ creator and original novelist J.K. Rowling is a big consideration here, since A) she has final say on anything adapted from the books and B) is a problematic figure given her negative views on trans people.

This was HBO’s recent statement on the issue:

“Warner Bros. has been working with J.K. Rowling and in the ‘Harry Potter’ business for over 20 years. Her contribution has been invaluable. We are proud to once again tell the story of ‘Harry Potter’ — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”

Fiennes (yes, him again) weighed in on the issue when talking to The New York Times in 2022:

“J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being. The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling. I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.”

When will the ‘Harry Potter’ series be on screens?

With production now under way on the series, HBO Max has at least confirmed that it will be hitting the streaming service in 2027, though an exact date has yet to be revealed.