HBO’s Bold Harry Potter Casting Choice Prove The TV Show Will Try To Be Unique

From the moment that HBO announced that it was embarking on creating a televised Harry Potter series, a lot of the questions have been about who will be playing the respective parts. There are many iconic roles within the Harry Potter franchise, and at this point, audiences have a clear image of who plays them due to the success of the movies

That’s why the casting choices being made for the upcoming television reboot are so interesting. They are completely different from what people might have in mind. HBO appears to be taking some big swings in a bid to ensure that the Harry Potter show will at least be unique, whether that’s a positive or negative decision in the long run.

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HBO Has Made Some Bold Harry Potter Casting Choices

Only one actor has been officially confirmed as part of the cast, with the former Dexter and How I Met Your Mother star set to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore. It’s a big swing by HBO and a monumental change from how things were done regarding the movies because it was a predominantly British cast. Most people expected that to be the case again, but HBO has already thrown that rule out of the window, opening up plenty of debate and a wide range of possibilities for other characters. Ultimately, it’s expected that Lithgow will be putting on a British accent as he’s done in other shows such as The Crown, but the fact HBO is willing to gamble on American talent could be a sign of what’s to come.

Janet McTeer has been rumored to be portraying Professor Minerva McGonagall, which seems like the type of casting people would expect. However, when it comes to Severus Snape, HBO is making another big change as Paapa Essiedu is HBO’s top target. This is obviously a significant change compared to Alan Rickman, with Essiedu being a person of color. That’s another bold choice and one that a lot of audiences are excited about. It’s a diversion from how people expect Snape to look, but those types of bold decisions will be necessary if this show has a life of its own beyond the movie series.

HBO Is Trying To Make Harry Potter Feel Unique

It is clear from the casting decisions that HBO is making that they want the show to feel completely unique, and that’s a good thing. There are always going to be comparisons between the Harry Potter movies and the upcoming television show, as they tell the exact same story. Therefore, being able to carve out a few differences right from the start is a good thing. Each actor will naturally portray the character slightly differently from those who were in the movies, but having people who stand out will help the show.

HBO might be purposefully trying to make the cast different, but that isn’t at the expense of quality. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who is cast if they’re not talented enough to take on the role, as that would lead to a poor show. The three names who have been attached to the franchise in Essiedu, McTeer, and Lithgow are all high-quality, award-winning actors in their own right who have proven their skills throughout their careers. They will bring their own ideas, but the fact that they are bold casting decisions will draw people in, while HBO will hope the performances keep people watching.

HBO’s Casting Choices Are Already Commanding Attention

Muggles still have a long while to wait before they can be transported back to the wizarding world, as the Harry Potter television series is slated to release in late 2026 or early 2027 at the moment. However, the casting decisions that are being made by HBO are indeed working to gain as much attention as possible for the series long before production commences. That’s one of the benefits of making big choices like this, as HBO wants to keep the buzz as active as possible even when the show is still in its infancy. Having people constantly talk about who is going to be involved, and the type of performances they can bring is an exciting situation for Harry Potter fans, especially since they’re such significant roles and big stars being involved.

The child roles are likely to be taken up by more unknown names, which places even more importance on who is taking on the adult characters such as Dumbledore and Snape. They’re just as important in telling the overall story as many of the biggest moments involve the adult characters, which is why they need to be cast importantly, as they carry a heavy load. But going outside of the box with the casting will make the Harry Potter television show feel special, giving audiences a reason to watch it even if they’re unsure.

Harry Potter

Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

Directors

Mark Mylod

Franchise(s)

Harry Potter

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  John Lithgow

  Albus Dumbledore