HBO executive Sarah Aubrey shares an honest response about whether the Harry Potter
TV show will be bringing back any original franchise stars. After eight successful films (and three lesser spinoffs) J. K. Rowling’s hit fantasy book series is set to make the jump to the small screen in a new series from showrunner Francesa Gardiner. The Harry Potter TV show is expected to chronicle the events of the books with much more detail than the movies could, and anticipation is high. A key point of interest is just who will actually play all the main characters.
In a recent interview with THR, Aubrey, who oversees HBO’s IP output, comments on the Harry Potter TV show’s casting process, suggesting that audiences shouldn’t expect to see any familiar faces from the movies. According to the executive, casting new actors has been a daunting process due to how beloved the performances from the movies are, but she is ultimately optimistic that the show’s longer runtime will lead to these new stars being embraced. Check out her comment below when asked whether actors are reaching out about being in the show and whether returning Harry Potter stars will be considered:
Yeah, I think it’s a dream job for a lot of actors in the U.K. But the roles that we’re casting right now are for people who are going to be on the show for a decade, so that’s also a very particular gig. But the commitment is to make the books, and that’s what it could be. But there are interesting people raising their hands to be the featured adult actors that come on in later seasons, like the Sirius Blacks of the world.
So, it’s been very, very fun, but we don’t want to repeat people that were in the movies. And it’s always a little nerve-wracking because people so associate those roles with certain actors, but I also think because it’s going to be eight hours of TV, we’re going to immerse them in a different actor’s performance.
Some Fancasts Are Off The Table
The Internet is awash with fancasts of who should play key figures from the Harry Potter cast of characters in the upcoming show. One popular suggestion is that Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton could now actually play Lucius Malfoy, the family patriarch previously played by Jason Isaacs. Aubrey splashes cold water on these hopes, suggesting that the cast of the show will comprise entirely new actors that haven’t been featured in the franchise before.
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Though the show’s cast remains largely shrouded in mystery, John Lithgow did recently confirm to ScreenRant that he will be playing Dumbledore, a role previously played by late actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. Lithgow marks the first American to play a major role in the franchise, and his casting could speak to the approach the show will be taking when it comes to choosing new actors. With filming on the Harry Potter TV show expected to get underway this summer in the U.K., more casting announcements may only be a matter of weeks or months away.
Our Take On The Harry Potter Show Casting Only New Actors
Why It’s Probably For The Best
The logic in not bringing original stars back for the show certainly makes sense. The Harry Potter movies were beloved and very successful, and actors like Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are still most associated with the characters of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, respectively. If they or any other actors were brought back as new characters, perhaps as Hogwarts professors, it could just end up being distracting as the lines between two different takes on the franchise blur.
The Harry Potter TV show faces an uphill battle when it comes to casting, and the first season, especially, could prove divisive simply because it will be attempting to solidify new actors as characters many audience members will already be very familiar with. As the show goes on, however, the new actors could end becoming the definitive versions of these characters, at least for younger audiences. Many questions remain about the Harry Potter TV show’s cast, but fans evidently shouldn’t expect to see their favorites back.
Source: THR
Harry Potter
- Showrunner
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Francisca Gardiner
- Directors
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Mark Mylod