New Rumor Suggests That Phoebe Waller-Bridge Could Be Taking on Key Role in HBO's HARRY POTTER Series
Fans are buzzing about both the confirmed and speculated casting rumors going on around HBO’s upcoming series Harry Potter, which will take each book in the celebrated series and make a whole season out of it.
Though the books were made into beloved films, and the stars who took on the roles completely embodied them and gave us faces to the characters we’d dreamed up in our imaginations, fans seem to be open to the idea that the shows will be able to dive deeper and tell a more complete story.
In the last couple of months, some of the most popular casting reports have included Mark Rylance up for the role of Albus Dumbledore, Gangs of London actor Paapa Essiedu is reportedly being eyed for the role of Professor Severus Snape.
Deadline confirmed these actors are in the running, and they’ve also added that Mark Strong is also up for the role of Dumbledore, which would be interesting to see.
Producers are also said to be looking to cast Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein in the role of Hogwarts’ gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid; and Bad Sisters co-creator/star Sharon Horgan is being looked at for Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, who was previously portrayed by the late Maggie Smith in the movies. Rachel Weisz is also on the studio’s “wish list” for the role.
This week, scooper Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com) has reported that actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) has been offered the role of Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter's evil aunt. I could see her in the part. She’s usually pretty funny, but she’s a great actress, and I think she’d really dig into this type of role.
There’s still no word on the casting of the three main stars, Harry, Ron and Hermione, but it’s most likely that they will be unknown actors who will get their big breaks in these roles, as their film counterparts did before them.
Stay tuned on updates as the series presses forward.