HBO’s Harry Potter Marks an Important Development Update With a First Costumed Official Photo

HBO has finally shared some big news about its new Harry Potter TV series. Not only has filming started, but fans also got their first look at young Dominic McLaughlin dressed up as Harry Potter himself. The series is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK, which is the same place where the original movies were made.

Along with this first photo, HBO also confirmed some new actors joining the cast. Rory Wilmot will be playing Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson will be Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey will take on the role of Madam Hooch, and Anton Lesser has been cast as Ollivander, the famous wand maker.

HBO plans to turn each of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books into its own season of television, so the story will unfold slowly across multiple seasons. The idea is to give every detail of the books time to shine, something fans of the novels should appreciate.

The main characters of the first season are already set. Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton playing Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Emmy winner John Lithgow has been cast as Hogwarts’ headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Janet McTeer will play Professor McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu will bring Professor Snape to life. Nick Frost has been chosen for the role of Hagrid.

Other familiar characters will also appear in the show. Katherine Parkinson will play Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt will be Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn is set as Lucius Malfoy, and Leo Earley will play Seamus Finnigan. Alessia Leoni, Sienna Moosah, Bel Powley, Daniel Rigby, and Bertie Carvel will portray Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Petunia Dursley, Vernon Dursley, and Cornelius Fudge, respectively.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts class will be led by Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, while Paul Whitehouse will play Argus Filch, Hogwarts’ caretaker.

Francesca Gardiner is the show’s showrunner and executive producer. Mark Mylod is working as the director for several episodes and is also an executive producer. J.K. Rowling herself is involved as an executive producer, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts from Brontë Film and TV. David Heyman, who worked on the original movies, is returning as well through Heyday Films.

HBO hasn’t announced a release date yet, but it’s clear the project is moving forward steadily. Fans can now officially look forward to a new take on the beloved Wizarding World, as reported by HBO.

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