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Metro
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Full list of Harry Potter TV series cast members so far as production begins
The Harry Potter cast is taking shape for HBO's upcoming TV adaptation. This month marks 14 years since the final part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hit the big screen and brought the film franchise to an end. A decade and a half later, a TV reboot is on the way in a move that isn't without controversy, given JK Rowling's comments about the trans community. There are still some big names already confirmed for the cast, and a trio of young stars ready to make their names as Harry, Ron and Hermione. The casting news is still rolling in, with John Lithgow and Paapa Essiedu confirmed, as well as Sherlock's Louise Brealey and Andor's Anton Lesser most recently announced. We now know that filming is underway for the show, so here's a list of all the actors set to decamp to Warner Bros Studios to recreate the wizarding world roles. John Lithgow was the first name to be attached to the Harry Potter series when he let slip he had been cast as Albus Dumbledore. He'll be playing the Hogwarts headmaster played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the original films. 'It was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid,' he previously told Screen Rant. 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter.' Paapa Essiedu has some big shoes to fill as Severus Snape, following on from the late, great Alan Rickman. There has been plenty of conversation around Essiedo too after his previously support of LGBTQ+ rights, which JK Rowling has said wouldn't impact his role despite 'beliefs that differ from her'. Away from Potter, he's best known for his roles in the likes of I May Destroy You, Gangs of London and Black Mirror. Stage and screen actress Janet McTeer has been cast as Minerva McGonnagal in the series. The role was originated by the late Dame Maggie Smith, but Janet will be hoping to put her own stamp on the role. Across film and TV, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning actress has appeared in the likes of Wuthering Heights, As You Like It, The Menu and Ozark. Finding the right Harry Potter is vital for the new series, and show bosses think they've done just that with Dominic McLaughlin. Daniel Radcliffe's successor has some acting experience, having appeared alongside Game of Thrones' Indira Varma in a Shakespearean production of Macbeth. He's also set to star in the ensemble cast for Sky film Grow, a comedy including Bridgerton's Golda Rosheuvel. Following in Emma Watson's footsteps as Hermione Granger is Arabella Stanton. She's no stranger to playing a clever clogs with magic powers, having portrayed Roald Dahl's character Matilda Wormwood on the West End. Last year, she appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller-skate musical Starlight Express as Control. Alastair Stout has been cast as Ron Weasley, rounding off the iconic young trio. Like Rupert Grint before him, Alastair is a true newcomer – thus far, he's only had a fleeting appearance in a Jersey Royal potato advert. Fans will be looking forward to seeing him bring the same cheeky charm to Ron as his predecessor, while putting his own stamp on the character. Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead star Nick Frost has the unenviable task of stepping into the late Robbie Coltrane's enormous Hagrid-sized boots. He'll be playing the beloved Hogwarts groundskeeper – and later professor – in the film, and he's promised he was 'never going to try' and imitate the late actor. 'I'm going to try and do something, not 'different'' I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia,' he told Collider. 'I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait.' Draco Malfoy will be getting a new look after young actor Lox Pratt was cast in the role as the Slytherin bully. The news comes just after Tom Felton, who played the character in the original films, announced his return to the Harry Potter fold. Despite speculation that he would be playing his character's father in the series, Tom confirmed that he would be reprising his own role – in the Broadway stage production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 'Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life,' he said in a statement. 'Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I'll also be the exact age Draco is in the play.' Singer Johnny Flynn was announced as the new Lucius Malfoy, stepping into Jason Isaacs' very creepy shoes as the Malfoy patriarch. Viewers may recognise him from Holby City, Scrotall Recall (renamed Lovesick when it moved to Netflix from Channel 4), Operation Mincemeat, Emma, The Dig and Ripley on Netflix – playing Dickie Greenleaf opposite Andrew Scott. He is also a successful singer and songwriter, having released six studio albums. He also created the theme song for the comedy series The Detectorists. Katherine Parkinson, most known for her efforts as Jen in the IT Crowd, has been cast as Weasley matriarch Molly Weasley – previously played by Dame Julie Walters. She has been a staple of our screens for decades, thanks to stints in Doc Martin, Psychoville, In the Club, Here We Go and the Honourable Woman. Most recently, she popped up in acclaimed Disney+ series Rivals as Lizzie Vereker, alongside Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit. Petunia Dursley played a huge role in Harry's early years, with the youngster staying with his aunt and uncle in Privet Drive when the series began. After Fiona Shaw's scene-stealing efforts as his late mother's snooty sister, Bel Powley will be taking over the role in the adaptation. She previously appeared in Masters of the Air, and The Morning Show, as well as The Diary of a Teenage Girl on the big screen. Daniel Rigby is taking over from the late Richard Thomas Griffiths as Petunia's husband and equally nasty Vernon Dursley. His most recent roles include Tom Jones and Eric and Ernie – for which he was awarded a Bafta – while he is set to grace our screens in Amazon's Blade Runner 2099. Bertie Carvel was confirmed to be playing Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, replacing Robert Hardy who took on the character on the big screen. He is one of the most notable actors from the cast so far, having appeared in The Crown, Dalgliesh, Doctor Foster, Sherlock, Waking the Dead and Babylon. Bertie also narrates Walking with Dinosaurs. The Gryffindor house is being further fleshed out after Leo Earley was cast in the role of Seamus Finnigan. Leo appears to be another newcomer to the spotlight, with Devon Murray having the role in the original franchise. Alessia Leoni has stepped into Shefali Chowdhury's robes as fellow Gryffindor Parvati Patil. It is currently not clear who will play Parvati's identical twin sister, Padma, with Shefali's close friend Afshan Azad landing the role in the franchise. Sienna Moosah will be joining the gang in the Gryffindor common room after being cast as Lavender Brown. Jessie Cave, Jennifer Smith and Kathleen Cauley were the stars who had portrayed the character in the original franchise. David Bradley left a lasting impression as sneering and grumbling Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch. For the HBO series, Paul Whitehouse will be the one roaming the corridors with Mrs. Norris in hand. From The Fast Show and Gone Fishing to Alice in Wonderland, The Death of Stalin and Corpse Bride, he's already built an impressive legacy. Quirinus Quirrell only appears in the Philosopher's Stone, but he plays a vital role in the Harry Potter franchise. Getting the nervous and jittery Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher right is an important one, and Luke Thallon follows on from Ian Hart in taking on the role. It will mark his TV debut, although he's had plenty of experience on the West End in the likes of The Room, Family Voices and Patriots, while he reprise his role from the latter on Broadway. Rory Wilmot was most recently added to the cast as the infamous Neville Longbottom, played in the films by Matthew Lewis. The young Brit is understood to have answered the production's casting call. He already has a couple of credits under his belt, from one episode of FBI: International and in Out of the Dust, an upcoming TV show currently in post-production. Articulate Drama School & Agency, where Wilmot has trained in acting, shared a post on Facebook congratulating him. They wrote: 'Congratulations Rory! You're going to be a brilliant Neville Longbottom! So proud.' Amos Kitson has been cast as Harry's slightly horrid cousin Dudley – although fans will know he goes on to mellow in later books after a nasty encounter with the Dementors. This will be Kitson's first acting role. Anton Lesser has been cast as the wand-seller Garrick Ollivander, fresh off his run on the revered Star Wars show Andor. Considered by many to be the best wandmaker in the Wizarding World, Ollivander was played by the late great John Hurt in the original films. Lesser is also known for his roles in Game of Thrones and The Crown, as well as in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Louise Brealey will take on Quidditch flying professor Madam Rolanda Hooch. The role was first played by the spikey-haired, husky-voiced Zoë Wanamaker. Brealey is best known as Molly Hooper in Sherlock and has most recently starred in the Bafta-winning dark comedy Such Brave Girls. There are still so many key characters yet to be officially cast, with Lord Voldemort among them. There are a couple of names in the running, with reports suggesting Cillian Murphy could follow in Ralph Fiennes' footsteps, while Tom Hiddleston has also been linked. Warner Bros TV boss Channing Dungey told Deadline in April that they were 'still weighing a couple of different options' for the villain. Filming kicked off on July 14 at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, with the first season set to focus on the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. More Trending The series has been confirmed for a 2027 release window, which will mark 16 years since the final movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two was released in cinemas. The movie franchise spanned a decade from 2001 to 2011, with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as the three stars. View More » A version of this article was originally published on June 9. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Harry Potter star admits he's already considering leaving TV reboot after one season MORE: Jason Isaacs blasts 'racist' Harry Potter fans over Paapa Essiedu's Snape casting in TV series MORE: Harry Potter star admits he 'would have run a million miles' from TV reboot years ago
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Anne Hathaway to play Taylor Swift-inspired popstar in upcoming film
Anne Hathaway will reportedly be part of a "lesbian power couple" with Michaela Coel in new film Mother Mary directed by David Lowery. Anne Hathaway is set to take on the role of a pop star with a likeness to both Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. However, she is tipped to have a concealed dark side in the upcoming film, Mother Mary. The new movie will feature Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway alongside Michaela Coel, who is rumoured to be playing her partner in a "lesbian power couple". Coel has previously been acclaimed for portraying Arabella Essiedu in BBC 's I May Destroy You. Coel steps into the role of a fashion designer and a long-standing pal of Hathaway's character, pivotal to her public image. Mother Mary promises an original narrative interwoven with musical elements, according to reports in the Mirror. Featuring a soundtrack that includes contributions from Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff, the film is complemented with singing and dancing. The project is under the direction of David Lowery, known for his work on A Ghost Story (2017), The Green Knight (2021), and Pete's Dragon (2016). Discussing the demanding role and its intricate choreography in a Vogue interview, Anne Hathaway shared: "I had to submit to being a beginner. The humility of that, showing up every day knowing you're going to suck, and it has to be okay. "You're not 'bad, you're just a beginner. Getting to that mindset - I had to shed some things that were hard to shed. It was welcome. But it was hard, the way transformational experiences can be hard. "My body was so locked up, I literally couldn't take a deep breath. I'd been trying to open that space for years and I thought it was physically impossible. All my breath, it was stuck." Coel has also shared insights into her deep dive into character preparation, revealing she attended techno clubs in Cologne, Germany during the shoot and even brought co-star Hathaway along for the experience. She praised the script as "vivid" and spoke of how the cast were "forced into an intensity" throughout the production. Lowery recounted a particularly intense moment on set: "It felt like shooting Apocalypse Now. At one point Annie [Hathaway] broke down and said, 'I have to apologise, because I think what's going to come out of me will hurt you,' and Michaela [Coel] took her hands and said, 'I love you, I trust you.'". Mother Mary is described by Deadline as an "epic pop melodrama following a fictional musician and her relationship with an iconic fashion designer". Other sources suggest Hathaway and Coel will portray a "lesbian power couple battling fame". The film boasts a stellar supporting cast including Jessica Brown Findlay, Sian Clifford, Alba Baptista, FKA twigs, Kaia Gerber, and Hunter Schafer. While the release date remains under wraps, it has been tipped for a 2026 debut.
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Anne Hathaway to play Taylor Swift-inspired popstar in new film
Anne Hathaway - best known for The Devils Wear Prada, The Princess Diaries and The Dark Knight Rises - will reportedly be part of a "lesbian power couple" with Michaela Coel in a new pop film Anne Hathaway 's next role has been decided with the Hollywood A-lister playing a Lady Gaga - Taylor Swift style popstar who has a hidden dark side. The new film, Mother Mary, will see her star alongside Michaela Coel, with the pair reportedly playing a " lesbian power couple". Coel, best known for playing Arabella Essiedu in BBC's I May Destroy You (2020), fills the shoes of a fashion designer and a long-time friend of Hathaway's character who played an instrumental role in her public persona. An authentic story told partially through music, with a soundtrack boasting the likes of Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff, as well as plenty of singing and dancing. All directed by David Lowery who has credits including A Ghost Story (2017), The Green Knight (2021) and Pete's Dragon (2016). Opening up on the role — and the complex choreography required for it — in an interview with Vogue, Hathaway remarked: "I had to submit to being a beginner. The humility of that, showing up every day knowing you're going to suck, and it has to be okay. "You're not 'bad, you're just a beginner. Getting to that mindset — I had to shed some things that were hard to shed. It was welcome. But it was hard, the way transformational experiences can be hard." "My body was so locked up, I literally couldn't take a deep breath. I'd been trying to open that space for years and I thought it was physically impossible. All my breath, it was stuck." While Coel has revealed how she got herself immersed in the role, frequenting techno clubs in Cologne, Germany during filming — and even invited Hathaway along with her. She also described the writing as "vivid" and explained how the cast were "forced into an intensity" over the course of filming. Such intensity was evident in one scene in particular, Lowery explained: "It felt like shooting Apocalypse Now. At one point Annie [Hathaway] broke down and said, 'I have to apologise, because I think what's going to come out of me will hurt you,' and Michaela [Coel] took her hands and said, 'I love you, I trust you.'" Mother Mary is said to be an "epic pop melodrama following a fictional musician and her relationship with an iconic fashion designer", according to Deadline. While other reports claim both Hathaway and Coel will play a "lesbian power couple battling fame". Hathaway and Coel will be joined by Jessica Brown Findlay, Sian Clifford, Alba Baptista, FKA twigs, Kaia Gerber and Hunter Schafer in supporting roles. A release date is yet to be confirmed, though it is expected to land sometime in 2026.
Leader Live
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media, which acquired broadsheet newspaper The Observer in April, will speak about the media landscape during the festival's flagship address. He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux. Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries. A post shared by Edinburgh TV Festival (@edinburghtvfest) 'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.' Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018. He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business. Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year. 'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.' The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
Rhyl Journal
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media, which acquired broadsheet newspaper The Observer in April, will speak about the media landscape during the festival's flagship address. He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux. Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries. A post shared by Edinburgh TV Festival (@edinburghtvfest) 'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.' Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018. He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business. Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year. 'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.' The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
