The new Wizarding World is starting to take shape. Casting is currently underway for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series, and while only a few roles have folks attached, it looks like Potter’s trusty sidekick and Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid is one of them. Shaun of the Dead star Nick Frost is reportedly currently in talks to take on the role.
That said, HBO released a fairly generic statement noting that it won’t comment on casting decisions unless they’re confirmed. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” the network explained via Variety. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
It looks like Nick Frost is the next Hagrid. Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images.
So far, there is only one confirmed role cast for the HBO series: John Lithgow confirmed that he would be taking on the part of Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. With Lithgow officially in the mix, fans now have to wait and see if the other rumored casting talks pull through.
Black Mirror star Paapa Essiedu is currently in talks to star as Severus Snape, Hogwarts’ devious potions professor, with Janet McTeer also in talks to join the cast as Minerva McGonagall, the transfiguration professor and head of Gryffindor house. However, unlike Lithgow, Essiedu, McTeer, and Frost have not yet been confirmed — so there’s certainly still waiting to do as the cast continues to grow.
Hagrid was originally played by the late Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, who appeared in all eight films.
This week, The White Lotus Season 3 star Jason Isaacs suggested a surprising pick for who should take over his role as Lucius Malfoy.
Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
