Dominic McLaughlin Says First Time Wearing His ‘Harry Potter’ Costume Felt “Surreal”

Dominic McLaughlin is stepping into one of the most famous roles in modern storytelling, and he admits the experience feels almost unreal.

The young actor, who will play Harry Potter in HBO’s upcoming television series, recently opened up about what it was like to put on the character’s costume for the first time.

While promoting his new film “Grow,” where he stars alongside Nick Frost, who also plays Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” series, McLaughlin spoke with BBC News about his journey into the wizarding world.

“A bit surreal to be honest, because I was always a huge ‘Harry Potter’ fan when I was younger,” he shared. “And it was like the dream role, of course, so I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it.”

The HBO series is a fresh adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved books. McLaughlin will be joined by Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The cast also features John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid.

Together, they make up a lineup that aims to honor the original characters while bringing new energy to the story.

Work on this series has been in motion for several years. HBO first revealed plans for a faithful, long-form adaptation back in January 2021. By September 2024, casting calls had gone out for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with more than 32,000 hopefuls auditioning. After months of deliberation, McLaughlin, Stout, and Stanton were officially cast in May 2025. Cameras began rolling that July at Leavesden Studios, the same location where the original film series was shot.

The show is led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, both of whom are known for their precision and creative vision. Their goal is to deliver a version of Harry Potter that stays closer to the books, with each season covering one novel in the saga.

Originally intended for HBO Max, the series was later confirmed for a full HBO release. Fans in the United States can expect the first season to arrive in early 2027, consisting of eight episodes.

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