In HBO’s new Harry Potter series, Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry, Arabella Stanton plays Hermione and Alastair Stout plays Ron. John Lithgow is Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu is Snape and Nick Frost is Hagrid. Season 1, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, premieres on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026.
This guide lists the confirmed cast, compares each actor with the film version, and gives our honest view of the casting.
⚡ Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Premiere | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Where to watch | HBO (US) and HBO Max where available, including Germany, Italy, the UK and Ireland |
| Season 1 | 8 episodes, based on the first book |
| Showrunner | Francesca Gardiner (writer and executive producer) |
| Director | Mark Mylod directs several episodes |
| Season 2 | Renewed in May 2026 (Chamber of Secrets). No release date yet |
HBO has not announced a schedule for episodes two to eight. Any site that lists a date for every episode is guessing. Check HBO Max closer to launch.
🧙 The Trio: Harry, Ron and Hermione
HBO ran an open casting search, and more than 32,000 children auditioned for the role of Harry.
| Character | HBO series | Original films |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter | Dominic McLaughlin | Daniel Radcliffe |
| Hermione Granger | Arabella Stanton | Emma Watson |
| Ron Weasley | Alastair Stout | Rupert Grint |
All three are newcomers to a role of this size. Stout has no earlier acting credits, and Stanton comes from musical theatre.
🏰 The Hogwarts Staff
| Character | HBO series | Original films |
|---|---|---|
| Albus Dumbledore | John Lithgow | Richard Harris |
| Minerva McGonagall | Janet McTeer | Maggie Smith |
| Severus Snape | Paapa Essiedu | Alan Rickman |
| Rubeus Hagrid | Nick Frost | Robbie Coltrane |
| Quirinus Quirrell | Luke Thallon | Ian Hart |
| Argus Filch | Paul Whitehouse | David Bradley |
| Filius Flitwick | Warwick Davis | Warwick Davis (returning) |
| Garrick Ollivander | Anton Lesser | John Hurt |
Other staff include Sirine Saba as Professor Sprout, Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch, Bríd Brennan as Madam Pomfrey and Richard Durden as Professor Binns.
👨👩👦 Families and Students
| Character | HBO series | Original films |
|---|---|---|
| Draco Malfoy | Lox Pratt | Tom Felton |
| Lucius Malfoy | Johnny Flynn | Jason Isaacs |
| Neville Longbottom | Rory Wilmot | Matthew Lewis |
| Seamus Finnigan | Leo Earley | Devon Murray |
| Dean Thomas | Elijah Oshin | Alfred Enoch |
| Petunia Dursley | Bel Powley | Fiona Shaw |
| Vernon Dursley | Daniel Rigby | Richard Griffiths |
| Dudley Dursley | Amos Kitson | Harry Melling |
| Molly Weasley | Katherine Parkinson | Julie Walters |
The Weasley family also includes Tristan and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George, Ruari Spooner as Percy, Harry Gilby as Charlie and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny. Jasper Talbot and Hannah Chinn play James and Lily Potter. Finn Stephens and William Nash play Crabbe and Goyle.
👻 Ghosts, Peeves and Other Fun Casting
The series casts Hogwarts ghosts and artefacts too. Peter Serafinowicz plays Peeves, Leo Bill plays Nearly Headless Nick, Andrew Brooke is the Bloody Baron and Daniel Fearn is the Fat Friar. David Threlfall voices the Sorting Hat, and Laura Smyth is the Fat Lady. Leigh Gill plays Griphook, and Bertie Carvel plays Cornelius Fudge.
This is a book-versus-film win for readers. The poltergeist Peeves is a book character who never appeared in the original films. An eight-episode season gives the show room to include him.
- Nothing has aired yet. Every opinion about these actors, ours included, is based on the cast list and the teaser.
- Some names are for Season 2. Kit Harington (Lockhart), Billy Barratt (Tom Riddle), Rafe Spall (Arthur Weasley) and Lenny Rush (Dobby) are not in Season 1.
- No episode dates. Only the December 25 premiere is confirmed.
🔮 What About Season 2?
HBO renewed the series in May 2026, before Season 1 premiered. Season 2 will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Kit Harington has been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart, Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley and Lenny Rush as Dobby. Bonnie Hill takes over as Ginny Weasley for that season. HBO has not announced a Season 2 release date.
🎥 Who Is Behind the Camera?
Francesca Gardiner writes the series and serves as showrunner. Succession director Mark Mylod directs several episodes and is an executive producer. J.K. Rowling is also an executive producer, along with Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts and David Heyman. The show is filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK. HBO describes it as a faithful adaptation, and each season is planned to cover one book.
📽️ What the Teaser Shows
HBO released the first teaser on March 25, 2026, at the HBO Max UK and Ireland launch event in London. Guests watched it inside a room styled as the cupboard under the stairs.
The teaser opens with Harry in his cupboard bedroom at the Dursleys’ house. His aunt gives him a rough haircut, and then his Hogwarts letter arrives. Hagrid explains the wizarding world and hints at Harry’s late parents. On the train, Ron asks Harry if he is really Harry Potter. A montage follows, with the trio exploring Hogwarts, Harry unwrapping a Quidditch broomstick, and quick glimpses of Dumbledore, Snape and Draco.
- Most exciting pick: Paapa Essiedu as Snape. It is a fresh take on a famous character, so he has room to make it his own.
- Safest pick: Nick Frost as Hagrid. He is warm, funny and big-hearted, which is exactly what the role needs.
- Biggest question mark: Dumbledore. John Lithgow has the experience, but we have seen very little of him so far.
- The real test: the three young leads. The series only works if their chemistry feels natural, and we will know that on Christmas Day.
🎬 Shows Like This
- House of the Dragon: HBO’s other big fantasy franchise, for viewers who want a darker world.
- Harry Potter film series: the original eight films, useful for comparing each performance.
❓ FAQ
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.
Eight.
Dominic McLaughlin.
Paapa Essiedu.
Nick Frost.
John Lithgow.
Warwick Davis returns as Professor Flitwick, the role he played in the films.
Yes. HBO renewed the series in May 2026. Season 2 will adapt Chamber of Secrets, and there is no release date yet.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Browse all TV Series posts on CineDecode
Last updated: November 6, 2026. We will update this guide when HBO announces an episode schedule.
📚 Sources
- Wizarding World: every actor confirmed for the HBO series
- TV Insider: premiere date, cast and plot details
- J.K. Rowling’s website: teaser and Christmas 2026 debut
Related reading: More TV Series | House of the Dragon Season 3 ending explained | VisionQuest review
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