A new Harry, Hermione and Ron have been anointed after a casting search which saw tens of thousands apply to the Harry Potter reboot on HBO.
The TV adaptation is set to start filming this summer, with a decade-long plan to adapt all of writer JK Rowling’s seven books into a season a piece.
We finally got word from HBO on who will be starring in the show, after an open casting call to British children aged 9 to 11 drew over 30,000 hopefuls.
The hunt for the next generation of Harry Potter started eight months ago and promised to be ‘inclusive to all races, ethnicities and gender identities’.
‘After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron,’ said executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod in a statement.
‘The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.’
The trio confirmed are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
So who are the newcomers and where have you seen them before?
Harry – Dominic McLaughlin
Tasked with being the star of the show and the next one to wear the lightning scar, Dominic McLaughlin is a Scottish actor who already has a few roles under his belt.
Dominic featured alongside Game of Thrones’ Indira Varma in a Shakespearean production of Macbeth and is set to star in the ensemble cast for Sky film Grow, a pumpkin-centric comedy including Bridgerton’s Golda Rosheuvel.
The announcement that Dominic has been cast as Harry Potter prompted his very proud acting school to share their congratulations online.
The Performance Academy Scotland posted on Facebook: ‘The news is out and this one is MAGICAL!!
‘Our amazing young performer has been cast as Harry Potter in the upcoming HBO series. We are not sure this will ever feel real but we said from the start that Dominic was the perfect Harry and we are thrilled for everyone else to see this soon too.
‘Dominic, we will forever be proud of you! We have had an incredible journey with you these last five years at TPA and can’t wait for what’s next on this journey!
‘We are extremely proud to represent you and can’t wait to go on this Wizarding journey together.
‘A massive congratulations to Dominic…our Harry Potter.’
Hermione – Arabella Stanton
The second child star on the roster is Arabella Stanton, who will follow in Emma Watson’s footsteps to play beloved clever clogs Hermione.
Arabella already has starring experience, having played another infamous brainbox: Roald Dahl’s character Matilda Wormwood.
Arabella starred in the West End musical production of Matilda in 2023, moonlighting on The One Show as Matilda for World Book Day.
Elsewhere on stage, Arabella appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s roller-skate musical Starlight Express in 2024, where she played the part of Control.
Arabella trained with with Guildford School of Acting and the British Theatre Academy, who shared their congratulations on Facebook, writing in a post: ‘We are INCREDIBLY proud of alumni Arabella Stanton who has been cast as HERMIONE GRANGER in the upcoming HBO MAX series HARRY POTTER!!
‘We cannot wait to see her take on this amazing role!’
Ron – Alastair Stout
The next redhead to play Ron on screen is Alastair Stout, who is a true newcomer with only one role in an advert to date.
Much like Paul Mescal made his TV debut in a sausage advert before his smash turn in Normal People, Alastair had a few seconds of screen time enjoying Jersey Royal spuds.
The company Albert Bartlett’s was among those rushing to congratulate the new cast, posting a snap from the advert on official Instagram page.
The caption read: ‘Following his appearance in our Jersey Royal advert we would like to congratulate Alastair Stout in his starring role as Ron Weasley in the new HBO Harry Potter series.’
All three can be sure that their roles thus far will be eclipsed by what’s to come, as their names will soon be known to millions when the show debuts next year.
How much are the cast being paid?
While there have been reports the Harry Potter trio are set to make millions, we don’t yet have confirmation what their salaries will be for the roles.
Although, the exposure that will come with being the faces of the franchise will be immensely valuable.
It has been compared to ‘winning the jackpot’ by brand expert Nick Ede, who told the MailOnline: ‘It’s going to completely change their lives.
‘Daniel Radcliffe was paid £1 million for his first film and that went up to £50 million for the last two. It’s not just the financial gain but the global fame will also bring endorsements and deals for them.
‘It’s the best start to an acting career they could ever want, I can only see it going up for them. But it is a lot of pressure to be cast in such a big show. They’re going to be superstars globally.
‘I can imagine them at least being paid £1 million per series to begin with and then you could even see them commanding £10 to £20 million each by the end of the seventh season – or even more.’
The rest of the Harry Potter cast
The production has already announced a raft of big names to fill the corridors and elaborate dining hall of Hogwarts.
Who's in the confirmed cast list for the Harry Potter TV series so far?
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter
Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger
Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley
Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore
Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall
Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
After rampant speculation John Lithgow was announced as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. The post was originally taken up by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, both of whom have since died.
The other cast members confirmed include I May Destroy You’s Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Kaos’s Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, as well as Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Rounding out the announcements thus far are Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.
Will JK Rowling be involved?
JK Rowling still has ownership over key aspects of the Harry Potter IP and will be an executive producer on the show.
Her involvement has been met with controversy amid her staunch anti-trans campaigning, which led to a rift with the original three stars of the films.
HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys was asked whether there were concerns her views would affect the show on The Town podcast earlier this year.
Bloys said: ‘We already have a show on HBO from her called CB Strike that we do with the BBC. It’s pretty clear that those are her personal, political views. She’s entitled to them.
‘Harry Potter is not secretly being infused with anything. And if you want to debate her, you can go on Twitter.’
Will any of the original cast return?
A number of the original Harry Potter cast members are no longer with us, including Robbie Coltrane, Dame Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman.
What’s more, any hopes the Harry Potter fans had of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint returning have been dashed by Rowling’s public feud with the stars over the last five years.
While we’ve not yet heard news of any returning cast members from other quarters of Hogwarts, we can’t rule it out until the entire cast has been confirmed.
The difference between series and film
The series promises to be a ‘faithful adaptation’ of Rowling’s books, so if the episodes differ from the films it will only be in allowing a great level of detail which couldn’t be achieved in a film’s run time.
When the adaptation was first announced at HBO, a statement promised the show would be ‘full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years’.
It continued: ‘Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.’
The Harry Potter TV show will air in 2026.
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