Summary

HBO's Harry Potter TV adaptation begins filming with Dominic McLaughlin as Harry.
New, experienced actors like Anton Lesser are joining the cast for key roles.
Each season will follow a book, offering a chance to explore Harry Potter lore thoroughly.

HBO's Harry Potter television adaptation officially started filming this week, marking the return to Hogwarts. Fans were given a first look at Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, and HBO has also officially cast several new actors in the highly anticipated show.

HBO's Harry Potter series already features an array of brilliant names, from John Lithgow to Nick Frost, but they're not slowing down. While many young, unknown actors are set to be thrust into the spotlight as they play the students in this show, HBO is also bringing in plenty of experience to take on the older roles.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

That is clear with HBO's newest hire, Anton Lesser, who has been cast in Harry Potter, which will debut on HBO and HBO Max in 2027. He will have an essential role in the first season as Lesser is taking on the role of Garrick Ollivander, the wizard most Hogwarts students visit to procure their first-ever wand. While it's famously the wand that chooses the wizard, and not the other way around, Ollivander provides a lot of help to Harry when he searches for his wand, which ultimately has a unique connection to Lord Voldemort.

Lesser will likely be able to play out that scene, just as John Hurt famously did during Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Harry Potter fans will likely know Lesser best for his role in Game of Thrones, where he played Qyburn, while he also took on the role of Harold Macmillan in The Crown. The experienced actor is no stranger to being involved in major franchises, as he also dipped his toes into the world of Star Wars by playing Lio Partagaz in the Disney Plus series, Andor. Now, Lesser will have the opportunity to join the Wizarding World, and he wasn't the only new actor added to the cast this week. Rory Wilmot will be playing Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson will be Dudley Dursley, and Louise Brealey is set to take on the part of Madam Rolanda Hooch.

The character of Ollivander is important at the start of Harry's journey, and he then takes a backseat throughout the rest of the story in the movies. He was brought back to play a small part in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and 2, which is likely going to be the case for the television show due to the vital role that Ollivander plays at that stage in the story. However, it will remain to be seen whether or not HBO will include him in more scenes throughout the seasons.

Each of JK Rowling's novels will be dedicated to them for an entire season, allowing HBO to dive deeper into the details and explore the lore of Harry Potter without as many time restrictions as the movie series had to deal with. Production has officially begun and will be continuing until spring 2026, when a short two-month break will take place before the cast returns to start developing the next season of Harry Potter. HBO has put together an impressive cast for this adaptation, and adding Lesser is only strengthening that and building the excitement around Harry Potter's release in 2027.

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