Harry Potter Cast Returns: HBO Confirms New Wizarding World Series — Release Date, Plot & Where to Watch

The Boy Who Lived has a new face—and two brand-new best friends. HBO has officially selected three rising British actors to headline its decade-spanning Harry Potter television adaptation: 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin will don the lightning scar as Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton stepping into the role of Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout portraying Ron Weasley. Why this matters for fans and streamers alike • The casting ends an exhaustive global search that reportedly drew more than 32,000 audition tapes, underscoring the scale of HBO’s investment and the franchise’s enduring pull. • By focusing on age-appropriate newcomers, the network is signaling a faithful, book-by-book retelling that will follow the young stars as they grow up on screen—a proven formula that powered the original films to $7.7 billion worldwide. Who else is headed to Hogwarts? HBO is balancing unknown leads with heavyweight support. John Lithgow will wield the Elder Wand as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu brews potions as Professor Snape, Janet McTeer commands classrooms as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost brings half-giant warmth to Rubeus Hagrid. Production timeline and creative team • Cameras roll this summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the very backlot that housed the original movies. • Showrunner Francesca Gardiner (Succession) and director Mark Mylod promise a “faithful adaptation,” with J.K. Rowling, David Heyman, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts executive-producing. • Season 1 is slated to stream in 2026, exclusively on the newly re-rebranded HBO Max. A fresh era, same enchanted halls The streaming age craves long-form storytelling, and Hogwarts—complete with moving staircases, Quidditch tournaments and dark wizards—offers a treasure trove of episodic cliff-hangers. By recasting its iconic trio now, HBO secures a generation of talent that can mature alongside seven planned seasons, each mirroring one novel. Diversity and open casting Casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann emphasized inclusive submissions “without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability or gender identity,” a pledge that hints at wider representation across supporting roles and the Weasley clan. Expect more announcements—from Draco Malfoy to Luna Lovegood—in the coming months. What to watch next With set construction underway and scripts in polishing stages, behind-the-scenes teases are likely to surface as filming begins. Bookmark this page for updates on first-look photos, episode directors and a potential Comic-Con sneak peek. For now, fans can raise their wands: the Sorting Hat has spoken, and a brand-new Hogwarts cohort is ready to board the Hogwarts Express.