The wizarding world is alight with anticipation as HBO unveiled the first official photo of the new Golden Trio for its upcoming Harry Potter reboot series, set to premiere in 2027. Announced yesterday, Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout will portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, respectively, in a decade-long adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seven-book saga. The image, showcasing the three young actors in their everyday attire, has sent fans into a frenzy, with many declaring that the newcomers bear a striking resemblance to the characters as described in the novels—more so, some argue, than the original film cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. As the excitement builds, the wizarding fandom is abuzz with hope that this reboot will bring a fresh yet faithful vision of Hogwarts to life.
The Harry Potter reboot series, greenlit by Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2023, aims to offer a more comprehensive adaptation of Rowling’s books than the original eight-film series, which ran from 2001 to 2011 and grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide. Each of the seven books—The Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows—will be adapted into a single season, allowing for a deeper exploration of the story’s nuances. Production is slated to begin this summer at Leavesden Studios in the UK, with showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer Mark Mylod, both known for their work on HBO’s Succession, at the helm. Rowling herself is an executive producer, ensuring the series remains true to her original vision, though her involvement has sparked some controversy due to her past anti-transgender statements—a topic HBO has addressed by emphasizing the story’s themes of love and acceptance.
The casting of the three leads was a monumental task, with HBO launching an open casting call in September 2024 that drew over 32,000 audition submissions from British children aged 9 to 11 as of April 2025. The goal was to find young actors who could authentically portray the 11-year-old characters as they begin their journey at Hogwarts, a decision that reflects the studio’s commitment to staying close to the books’ timeline. After months of auditions, casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann selected McLaughlin, Stanton, and Stout, a trio Gardiner and Mylod described as “unique actors” whose talent is “wonderful to behold.” The first photo of the three, released on May 27, 2025, shows them standing side by side, their youthful faces radiating the innocence and potential of the characters fans have cherished for nearly three decades.
Dominic McLaughlin, cast as Harry Potter, is a newcomer with minimal acting experience, having only appeared in an upcoming Sky original movie, Grow, alongside Golda Rosheuvel and Nick Frost—who will also play Rubeus Hagrid in the reboot. In the photo, McLaughlin’s dark, tousled hair and slight frame evoke the image of a young Harry as described in the books, though some fans noted that his eyes appear blue rather than the green specified by Rowling. However, recent posts on X have celebrated a later clarification from HBO that McLaughlin’s eyes were digitally altered to green for the role, fulfilling a long-standing fan desire unmet in the original films, where Radcliffe’s blue eyes were never changed due to his discomfort with contact lenses.
Arabella Stanton, who will portray Hermione Granger, brings a bit more experience to the table, having starred as Matilda Wormwood in Matilda the Musical on London’s West End and Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express at Wembley Park Theatre. Fans have been particularly vocal about Stanton’s resemblance to Hermione as described in the books, with her bushy brown hair, expressive eyebrows, and slightly prominent front teeth aligning closely with Rowling’s depiction of the brightest witch of her age. Social media reactions have highlighted this fidelity, with one X user noting, “Hermione actually looks like a Hermione—from the hair to the eyebrows to the teeth,” while another praised how Stanton “looks like she came straight from the books.”
Alastair Stout, cast as Ron Weasley, is the least experienced of the trio, with his only prior credit being a small role in an advertising campaign. Yet, his casting has been met with enthusiasm, particularly for his red hair and freckled complexion, which align perfectly with the Weasley family’s iconic look in the novels. Fans have appreciated this attention to detail, with one X post stating, “They kept Ron a ginger, and I’m here for it!” Another user remarked that Stout’s features, though not perfectly matching Ron’s described long nose, capture the character’s warmth and humor in a way that feels true to the books.
The sentiment that these young actors resemble their book counterparts more closely than the original film cast has been a recurring theme in fan reactions. The first Harry Potter films, while beloved, made certain compromises in their casting—Radcliffe’s eye color remained blue, Watson’s hair was straightened over time, and Grint’s portrayal of Ron, while endearing, didn’t fully capture the character’s physical awkwardness as described by Rowling. In contrast, HBO’s reboot seems to have prioritized fidelity to the books’ descriptions, a choice that has resonated deeply with fans who grew up imagining the characters through Rowling’s words rather than the films’ interpretations. One X user summed up the feeling: “To be very honest, if we’re strictly going by the books, these kids resemble Hermione, Harry, and Ron better than the OG cast.”
The excitement isn’t limited to the trio’s appearance. Fans are also eager to see them in their Hogwarts robes, with one X post pleading, “Can they drop the promo pics already? I need to see them in their Hogwarts robes like rn.” The anticipation reflects a broader enthusiasm for the reboot, which promises to delve deeper into the books’ subplots and character arcs—elements often condensed or omitted in the films due to time constraints. For instance, the series is expected to explore more of Ron’s insecurities, Hermione’s S.P.E.W. campaign, and Harry’s internal struggles, offering a fresh perspective even for longtime fans.
However, the casting hasn’t been without its critiques. While the trio has been widely praised, some fans have expressed dissatisfaction with other casting choices, particularly the adult roles announced earlier in April 2025. John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid have sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the decision to cast an American like Lithgow as Dumbledore and others debating Essiedu’s race swap for Snape. One X user noted, “The fact they’ve gone so hard to find these three children who actually do look like their book counterparts makes the other casting all the more obviously wrong. #NotMySnape.” Despite these concerns, the focus remains on the young leads, who are seen as a promising foundation for the series.
The reboot also navigates the broader context of the Harry Potter franchise, which remains a cultural phenomenon valued at $26 billion but is not without controversy. Rowling’s involvement as an executive producer has drawn criticism due to her past statements on transgender issues, which have alienated some fans and prompted statements of support for the trans community from original stars like Radcliffe and Watson. HBO has addressed this by emphasizing the story’s themes of love and self-acceptance, with Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys stating, “Our priority is what’s on the screen.” The original films will remain available globally, allowing fans to revisit the classic portrayals while embracing this new interpretation.
For McLaughlin, Stanton, and Stout, the road ahead is both thrilling and daunting. They inherit roles that defined a generation, roles that turned Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint into global stars while also binding them to the characters in the public imagination. Yet, the excitement surrounding their casting suggests that fans are ready to embrace a new Golden Trio. Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with one X user writing, “I love all of them. They look like they came straight from the books, especially Hermione!!! I’m so happy we got a new golden trio 🥹🤍.” Another noted, “The casting is incredible for our main trio! They’ll grow into their characters nicely!”
As production gears up, the wizarding world eagerly awaits the next glimpse of these young stars—perhaps in their Hogwarts robes, wands in hand, ready to board the Hogwarts Express. For now, the first photo of Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout has reignited the magic of Harry Potter, proving that even after nearly 30 years, the story of the Boy Who Lived—and his loyal friends—continues to enchant and inspire. With a new trio that captures the essence of the novels in a way fans have long dreamed of, the HBO reboot is poised to cast a spell that will captivate audiences for years to come.
