As of now, there’s only one person cast in HBO‘s upcoming series remake of J.K. Rowling‘s “Harry Potter” series: John Lithgow as Professor Albus Dumbledore. But Deadline reports that two more castings may be imminent, although one of them won’t come as a surprise to up-to-date fans.
So let’s start with the more more intriguing news, shall we? The outlet reports that Janet McTeer is in talks to star in the HBO series as Professor Minvera McGonagall. The Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress is no stranger to either HBO or TV productions. She starred in the HBO film “Into The Storm” as Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine, and has recent roles in FX‘s “The Old Man” and Netflix‘s “Kaos.” Other notable roles include “Tumbleweeds,” which she got an Oscar nod and a Golden Globe win, and “Albert Nobbs.” McTeer is also a Tony and Olivier Award winner for “A Doll’s House,” with several nominations for other stage productions.
And then there’s Paapa Essiedu‘s potential casting as Professor Severus Snape. Rumors began to swirl last December that the British actor was closing in on the coveted role, and it appears he’s inching closer. Is it official yet? No, but Deadline says he’s very close to closing the deal. It’d be a breakout role for Essiedu, who’s quietly put together quite the resume as one of the UK’s up-and-coming acting talents. He recently starred in the BBC/HBO limited series “I May Destroy You,” receiving both Emmy and BAFTA nods for his work as well as “The Lazarus Project” (another BAFTA nod), and the Netflix series “Black Doves.” He also starred in “The Outrun” last year opposite Saoirse Ronan, as well as the British horror comedy “The Scurry.”
But what does HBO have to say about this apparently imminent castings? Nothing, presently; the network declined to comment. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” a press statement reads. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.” But showrunner Francesca Gardiner‘s comments at a Max event last December that the series will cast roles like Snape as per their “canonical” ages in the book may hint at how likely these castings are. Essiedu is 34; not a spot-on match, but close enough, while McTeer is a couple of years younger than the late Maggie Smith was when she first played McGonagall in 2001. Meanwhile, Lithgow is currently 79, seven years older than Richard Harris‘ Dumbledore in the 2001 film.
We’ll see if Gardiner’s casting choices stay true to her comments. As it stands now, there are still plenty of roles to cast, and HBO and Warner Bros. better expedite the process, as the show’s first season aims for a late 2026 or early 2027 start date.
