According to Deadline, Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu are in talks to play Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, respectively, in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” TV series.
Janet McTeer in Talks for Minerva McGonagall Casting
Janet McTeer is an Oscar and Emmy nominated actress known for her roles in “Ozark” and other HBO projects like “Into the Storm” and “I May Destroy You.” Both of these projects earned McTeer Emmy nominations.
The actress is only a couple of years younger than the late Maggie Smith was when cast for the role. In the “Harry Potter” films, Smith appeared as Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor house and deputy headmistress to Albus Dumbledore. According to the BBC, Smith was the only actor that “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling specifically requested for the films, so McTeer would have big shoes to fill in the role.
Paapa Essiedu in Talks for Severus Snape Casting
Paapa Essiedu, another Emmy nominee, is also in talks to be cast in the series as Severus Snape. The casting of Essiedu comes from the desire to “stick to the ‘canonical’ ages of Snape” throughout the series. The actor will be 31 when filming begins. The Dursleys will reportedly also be portrayed much younger in the series than they did in the films.
The late Alan Rickman was 55 when he first played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. Snape is the head of Slytherin House and Potions Professor.
John Lithgow in Talks for Albus Dumbledore Casting
John Lithgow is also reportedly in talks to play Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” TV series.
HBO has declined to comment but said in a statement, “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
The new “Harry Potter” series is to be a decade-long seven-seasonadaptation of the books by J.K. Rowling. No acting announcements have been announced. The creative team includes showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner (“Succession,” “His Dark Materials,” “Killing Eve”). Mark Mylod (“Succession,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Last of Us”) will executive produce and direct multiple episodes. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films also executive produce. It was originally set to be a Max Original but will now be an HBO Original.
Last fall, HBO posted open casting calls for the “Golden Trio” of the “Harry Potter” series: Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Reportedly 32,000 kids sent in audition tapes.
The “Harry Potter” TV series will be filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. It will air on HBO in late 2026 or early 2027. See the series announcement below.
Are you looking forward to the “Harry Potter” TV series? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Deadline
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