HBO’s Harry Potter TV show has started casting and rumors are flying, with some excitingly big names in the mix. Since its announcement, the TV show has raised various questions. For instance, fans questioned why the TV show was being made, since the Harry Potter movies are not that old and are critically acclaimed. While the crew of the show has claimed that the show will be even more faithful to the books than the movies, it is only with the recent casting news that the show’s unique value started to really make itself apparent.

There is currently an open casting call for the Golden Trio. The trio is Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger, played in the movies by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, respectively. This suggests an unknown cast for the movie’s three main characters, ensuring a fresh start for the TV show and giving new talent a chance to shine. With upwards of 30,000 children having auditioned already, the Harry Potter TV show is sure to find the right talent. Meanwhile, for its adult cast, the show appears to be targeting particular actors.

7Cillian Murphy

Voldemort

Casting rumors for the Harry Potter TV show position Cillian Murphy as a potential candidate for the evil Voldemort. While Hero Fiennes Tiffin played a child Voldemort and Christian Coulson played the character at Hogwarts, Ralph Fiennes represented Voldemort throughout the majority of the Harry Potter movies. Taking over as Voldemort would be a huge job for Murphy, with three excellent actors to compare to. The show would likely require younger versions of the character, just as the movies did, but Murphy would be stepping into a life-changing role nonetheless.

HBO has neither confirmed nor denied the Cillian Murphy rumors.

This Irish actor would make an excellent Voldemort and was even endorsed by Ralph Fiennes himself, who nailed the character in the Harry Potter movies. Fans asked Fiennes what he thought of Murphy playing Voldemort on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Fiennes confirmed that “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. [He] would be all in favor of Cillian.” However, HBO has neither confirmed nor denied the Cillian Murphy rumors. As such, they are nothing more than hearsay, and the casting of Lord Voldemort remains unknown.

6Rachel Weisz

Minerva McGonagall

Rachel Weisz’s name has been tossed in the ring for the role of Minerva McGonagall. As far as Hogwarts headmasters in Harry Potter go, McGonagall is one of the most beloved. McGonagall was the head of Gryffindor and the Transfiguration Professor before Dumbledore died in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. After Dumbledore’s death, McGonagall ascended to headmistress, making her one of the most powerful witches in the world of Harry Potter. Rachel Weisz has a history of playing incredibly powerful women, so she would probably play McGonagall perfectly.

Deadline reported conflicting information on the casting of Rachel Weisz as Minerva McGonagall without citing a source. It appears that Weisz is being discussed in relation to the role at an industry level. However, there is little to point to whether this rumor is closer to a fancast or a serious conversation. Seemingly, Rachel Weisz fans must wait to know if she will be put forward for the huge role or not. If not, there are other actresses being considered for the role who may also handle it with aplomb.

5Sharon Horgan

Minerva McGonagall

Deadline hinted that Sharon Horgan may end up playing Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter TV show. Along with Dave Finkel and Brett Baer, Horgan developed the comedy TV show Bad Sisters, which was met with significant commercial success. The Irish actress and director has astounding comedic timing, both as a showrunner and on-screen. It is uncertain if she would be welcomed as Professor McGonagall by the world at large, since she is relatively unknown. However, she does seem like she has the acting chops to play the world’s most-loved transfiguration professor.

Maggie Smith voiced Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter video game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.

In being cast in the Harry Potter TV show, Horgan would be filling the shoes of Dame Maggie Smith, the last person to play Professor McGonagall on screens. Maggie Smith was the perfect Professor McGonagall in every way, which is part of what made it so affecting for so many when she passed away in September 2024. As McGonagall, Smith was prim, proper, warm, and morally upstanding, somehow embodying British stereotypes and rejecting them all at the same time. Smith’s mild Scottish accent had a strong impact on her characterization of McGonagall, which Horgan’s Irish heritage may see her emulating in some way.

4Brett Goldstein

Rubeus Hagrid

Rubeus Hagrid was masterfully portrayed by Robbie Coltrane in the Harry Potter movies, but Brett Goldstein may be seeking the Hagrid role for the TV show. This British actor is in some big movies, but may be best known for his stand-up comedy. This points to HBO moving toward actors wired for the stage for their adult cast. The Potterverse movies tended toward stage actors for their adult casts. This helped them capture the grandiose nature of their characters, who were pulled from fantasy children’s books with huge scope, ranging from comedy to horror.

The Harry Potter movies can be streamed on Peacock in the U.S.

Indeed, Brett Goldstein’s stage experience may help him acclimatize to the role. Although he isn’t widely known as a theater actor, like many of the Harry Potter movies’ cast, he actually has perfect stage experience for Hagrid. Hagrid was often the comic relief when the Harry Potter movies got dark, and he will likely provide a similarly essential role in the HBO TV show. Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Along with his stand-up comedy experience, this proves that Goldstein could handle Hagrid.

3Paapa Essiedu

Severus Snape

Paapa Essiedu is strongly rumored to be eyed for the role of Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV show. This British actor played Kwame in Michael Coel’s critically acclaimed I May Destroy You. This serious and moving drama touching on the topic of consent required incredible depth from all its cast. Essiedu, in particular, delivered unbelievable confidence and angst in I May Destroy You. Anyone who has seen it could probably testify to his ability to play Severus Snape with serious flair. And, this casting rumor is fairly well-founded.

Production of the Harry Potter TV show is set to start in the summer of 2025.

Unconfirmed sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Paapa Essiedu is being tapped for the Snape role. HBO was contacted for comment and said “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.” The subscription television service neither confirmed nor denied the claims, so it seems like Essiedu stands out as a likely contender for the new Severus Snape. However, a deal would have to be finalized between HBO and the actor for Snape’s casting to be completed. Such a high-profile show could secure another perfect choice for Snape if Essiedu did not join.

2Mark Rylance

Dumbledore

Mark Rylance was one of the first rumors to emerge from the rumor mill when it came to the casting of the Harry Potter television series. Rylance may end up playing Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. This British theater and movie actor has incredible range, playing scary roles as often as he plays kindly ones. Rylance was both terrifying and sweet in Bones and All, the underrated Luca Guadagnino drama starring Timothée Chalamet. The serial killer vampire had the veneer of a wizened and caring old man, and somehow this would transpose perfectly to the profoundly layered Albus Dumbledore.

Also, Mark Rylance’s experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company would prepare him for the role of Albus Dumbledore. Michael Gambon and Richard Harris both had significant theater experience, which was clear in their performances as Dumbledore. The flamboyance and hugeness of a leading stage role was evident in both versions of Dumbledore, which bore a striking resemblance, despite bringing their own flavor to the movie franchise. Rylance, who has starred in The Other Boleyn Girl and Bridge of Spies, could continue this trend, with a dramatic Dumbledore and gigantic gravitas.

1Mark Strong

Dumbledore

The newest Dumbledore rumor to emerge is around Mark Strong, the phenomenal British actor well-known for his roles in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Shazam!, and Sherlock Holmes. While Mark Rylance is a fantastic option for Albus Dumbledore, Mark Strong is an equally brilliant and high-profile proposition. HBO is reportedly looking to make a decade-long series, so the role of Dumbledore would be completely defining for whoever took it up. With a fantastic career already behind him, the well-known Mark Strong appears more than ready to assume this colossal responsibility.