‘Harry Potter’ TV Show Cast Guide: Who’s Who in Hogwarts?

Mar 26, 2026 2:17pm PT ‘Harry Potter’ TV Show Cast Guide: Who’s Who in Hogwarts? By Abigail Lee , Lauren Coates , Jordan Moreau , Leia Mendoza , Giana Levy , Andrew McGowan It’s time to step back into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. HBO’s upcoming TV adaptation of “Harry Potter” will begin airing during Christmas 2026. Each of author J.K. Rowling’s seven books in the series, “Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets,” “Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Goblet of Fire,” “Order of the Phoenix,” “Half-Blood Prince” and “Deathly Hallows,” will be turned into its own season of television. Dominic McLaughlin will star as the young wizard Harry Potter, who grew up with his abusive aunt and uncle after his parents died when he was a child — leaving him with his trademark lightning bolt scar. As he enrolls in his first year at Hogwarts, Harry’s best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, will be played by Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton. The three are largely newcomers with few prior acting credits. McLaughlin acted in “Grow,” a comedy on Sky with his Hagrid co-star Nick Frost, Stanton starred as Matilda in the musical of the same name in the West End, and Stout had no prior acting credits. HBO held auditions for over 32,000 children to play Harry. Executive producer Mark Mylod and the casting team reviewed 500-1,000 audition tapes per day during the long process. Other major cast members include John Lithgow as Hogwarts’ Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; Paapa Essiedu as Prof. Severus Snape; Janet McTeer as Prof. Minerva McGonagall; Frost as Rubeus Hagrid; and Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as Harry’s Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley. Also in Season 1, Paul Whitehouse will play Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch; Luke Thallon is Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Quirinus Quirrell; Katherine Parkinson is Molly Weasley; Lox Pratt is Draco Malfoy; and Johnny Flynn is Lucius Malfoy. The “Harry Potter” show is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, who i...