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Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout to join Paapa Essiedu, Janet McTeer, Luke Thallon, Nick Frost and Paul Whitehouse in new Harry Potter series

HBO has announced the lead cast of its new Harry Potter TV series, casting screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

Arabella Stanton is already well-known to West End audiences, having starred in blockbuster show Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London, playing the lead role of Matilda; and recently starring as Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s immersive production of Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London.

She trained at the Guildford School of Acting, the British Theatre Academy, and Aldance.

Dominic McLaughlin, who plays Harry Potter in the series, is also no stranger to the stage. Last year he appeared alongside Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma in Macbeth, as part of its tour, which included the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh. His other TV roles include upcoming BBC action-adventure series called Gifted.

Alastair Stout will make his screen debut as Ron Weasley.

Back in September 2024, a casting call was launched to find the three main leads, with around 32,000 children auditioning for the parts. The children had to be residents of the UK or Ireland, and aged between nine and 11 on April 2025.

The series promises to be a faithful adaptation of the much-loved Harry Potter books. The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod executive producing and directing multiple episodes of the series for HBO, in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.

Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said in a joint statement: “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. 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.”

HBO Max Original Harry Potter Series - Casting
HBO Max Original Harry Potter Series – Casting – L-R: (from left to right): John Lithgow (Credit: Jessica Howes), Janet McTeer (Credit: Andrew Crowley), Paapa Essiedu (Credit: Ruth Crafer), Nick Frost (Credit: Lee Malone), Luke Thallon (Credit: Phil Sharp), Paul Whitehouse (Credit: Mike Marsland)

Other cast members announced last month for the new Harry Potter series include six-time Emmy, two-time Tony Award, Olivier winner, and BAFTA and Oscar nominee John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore. John Lithgow is currently starring in Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, his performance winning the 2025 Olivier Award for Best Actor.

Emmy, Olivier and BAFTA nominee, and Ian Charleson Award winner Paapa Essiedu will star as Severus Snape in the series. Paapa is set to return to the West End stage this autumn, in a revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons starring Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Also starring in the show is Olivier winner and Oscar and Emmy nominee Janet McTeer (Phaedra) as Minerva McGonagall, Luke Thallon (Patriots, Hamlet) as Quirinus Quirrell, film star Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and five-time BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse (Only Fools and Horses The Musical) as Argus Filch.

The acclaimed West End stage production featuring Harry Potter characters, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, continues its successful run at the Palace Theatre in London.

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets at the Palace Theatre London

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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