HBO’s HARRY POTTER Series Casts James and Lily Potter, Plus Charlie Weasley in His Live-Action Debut
HBO’s Harry Potter series is bringing some familiar faces from the wizarding world to life, including one character who never got his moment in the original films.
Harry Gilby, Jasper Talbot, and Hannah Chinn have joined the cast as Charlie Weasley, James Potter, and Lily Potter, respectively. All three will appear in the first season of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Fans of the original Harry Potter movies will remember James and Lily Potter appearing in photographs, flashbacks, and magical encounters throughout the story. Harry’s parents play an important role in his journey, and the HBO adaptation will introduce new actors in those roles.
Charlie Weasley is the more interesting addition here, as Ron’s older brother never actually appeared in the movies. He’s mentioned in the films, but book readers know him as the dragon-loving Weasley who works with the creatures in Romania.
Bringing Charlie into the series gives HBO an opportunity to explore more of the Weasley family and include characters and storylines that didn't make it into the films. It'll be fun to finally see Charlie brought to life on screen.
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
They're joined by John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
The Hogwarts students also include Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, and William Nash as Gregory Goyle.
Other cast members include Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, and Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell.
Rounding out the cast are Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch, Bríd Brennan as Poppy Pomfrey, Leigh Gill as Griphook, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.
HBO has also lined up several additions for Season 2, which is based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and is currently filming at Leavesden Studios outside London.
Kit Harington, best known for Game of Thrones, will play Gilderoy Lockhart. He'll be joined by Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley, Lenny Rush as Dobby, Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley, Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle, and Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey.
The official synopsis for Season 1 reads: “There is nothing special about Harry Potter — or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.”
Francesca Gardiner serves as writer and executive producer, while Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes. The HBO series is produced in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television.
Additional executive producers include J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, David Heyman, Laura Neal, and Jon Brown.
The first season of Harry Potter premieres on HBO on December 25, 2026, making Christmas Day a return trip to Hogwarts for fans.
With Charlie Weasley finally getting his live-action debut, it'll be interesting to see how much more of the books HBO plans to bring to the screen. There are plenty of characters and moments the movies left out, and this new adaptation has a chance to give them some attention.
Source: Variety