Casting for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot series is ramping up ahead of its planned 2026 release.
I May Destroy You actor Paapa Essiedu is reportedly close to finalizing deals to play Severus Snape, the Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who’s also the Head of House Slytherin. Meanwhile, Ozark’s Janet McTeers is reportedly in serious consideration to play Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts’ austere Transfiguration Professor. Rumors of their casting follows last month’s news that The Crown star John Lithgow had been cast as Hogwarts Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore.
If confirmed, Essiedu and McTeer will fill the shoes of two screen legends who previously portrayed the roles in the movies: the late Alan Rickman and Dame Maggie Smith, respectively. The eight original films starring Daniel Radcliffe were a generation-defining franchise, beloved by throngs of fans worldwide and representing billions of dollars in IP revenue for Warner Bros.
Written by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter series follows the adventure of its titular character, an eleven year old orphan boy at the start of the story, who learns that he is a wizard. Rediscovering his roots, Harry attends Hogwarts and later finds out that he is destined to defeat the most powerful evil wizard who seeks to rule their world.
The reboot series, designed to run over a decade, is described as a “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s novels that will “dive deep into each of the iconic books.” Writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod will spearhead the series with Rowling’s blessings.