Ozark Proves Janet McTeer Is The Perfect Professor McGonagall For HBO’s Harry Potter

It was recently confirmed that John Lithgow will be taking on the role of Professor Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, and that has sparked rumors about who else will be joining the cast. Paapa Essiedu is reportedly closing in on a deal to play Severus Snape, and fan casting has begun to kick into overdrive now by Harry Potter fans.

There are countless rumors of numerous actors potentially joining the cast, and given how many incredible roles there are within the Harry Potter story, there is no shortage of options for the actors of the world to take on. The latest report has caught many people’s attention and is for one of Hogwarts’ most important professors.

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Janet McTeer Is In Talks To Join The Harry Potter Cast

Professor Minerva McGonagall is a significant character in the Harry Potter franchise and one of the story’s most influential females. According to Deadline, Janet McTeer is in talks with HBO to take on this role, which would see her join the highly-anticipated series. While the network hasn’t confirmed that they’re in talks with any actor, all of the signs are currently pointing toward McTeer taking on this role and wielding a wand when the show begins filming in the summer of 2025 ahead of an expected premiere in late 2026 or early 2027.

The role will have plenty of weight behind it, considering that Maggie Smith previously played it in all eight Harry Potter movies. The legendary actress brought Professor McGonagall to life in an enchanting but firm manner. Her ability to make McGonagall someone who everyone feared and took seriously while having a level of warmth and kindness was a testament to her acting quality, but it has put a lot of pressure on whoever takes up the role, whether that’s McTeer or someone else.

Ozark Proves Janet McTeer Has The Balance To Be Professor McGonagall

McTeer has taken on various roles throughout her career. From her Golden Globe-winning performance as Mary Jo Walker in Tumbleweeds to appearing in an episode of Black Mirror, she has played various characters that have proven her range. Arguably, the role McTeer is known best for is playing Helen Pierce in the hit Netflix show Ozark. She took on one of the lead roles in the television series, and McTeer captivated audiences with the presence that she brought to every scene she was part of. Her performance throughout Ozark is a clear sign that Harry Potter fans shouldn’t be worried about her potentially taking on the role of Professor McGonagall, as there are a lot of similarities, even though the world of Ozark is far more dangerous and violent.

Ozark was largely dominated by male characters in a similar manner to the Harry Potter franchise, but McTeer proved she’s able to stand out in a crowd to create a powerful female character who can be taken seriously. Pierce was feared throughout most of Ozark, but once her family got involved in the show, she began to bring a lot more vulnerability to the role. It showcased a different side to Pierce as a character, and the fact she’s able to perform both styles of acting at the same time is something that would serve McTeer well if she ended up landing the role of Professor McGonagall in HBO’s Harry Potter.

Professor McGonagall Is Crucial To The Harry Potter Story

Professor McGonagall might not be as powerful as Professor Dumbledore or as dangerous as Lord Voldemort, but she’s crucial to the Harry Potter story. Whether it’s her role as a teacher, how she opens up opportunities in Quidditch to Harry, or how she stands up to Dolores Umbridge, there’s a lot for any actor to sink their teeth into when it comes to this part. It’s one of the most exciting within the franchise, and the fact that she’s such a powerful witch only aids that. If McTeer takes on the role, she will portray someone who is feared within the wizarding world and is taken seriously by everyone she encounters.

Being able to throw in levels of vulnerability, kindness, and humor is crucial to taking on the role of McGonagall, and McTeer is able to do that. She’s also someone who has more than enough experience and star power to work perfectly within this cast. There will be a lot of attention on everything this HBO project does; therefore, having people involved in major television shows, such as Ozark, in the past will be beneficial. This is especially true for some of the lead adult roles, as they will need to take on a lot of the responsibility to help the younger actors as they develop throughout the series. Audiences want Harry Potter to have the strongest cast possible in a bid to give the show the best chance of succeeding, and McTeer would tick that box.

Harry Potter

Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

Directors

Mark Mylod

Franchise(s)

Harry Potter

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  John Lithgow

  Albus Dumbledore