{"id":615106,"date":"2026-09-29T07:24:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T07:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/615106\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T07:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T07:24:22","slug":"original-harry-potter-star-officially-returns-for-hbo-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/615106\/","title":{"rendered":"Original ‘Harry Potter’ Star Officially Returns for HBO Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

In less than three months, HBO’s new Wizarding World<\/a> will officially open its doors as the most ambitious TV event of the decade begins. Key to the success of the new Harry Potter adaptation will be the cast, with the task of stepping into the shoes of many iconic performers certainly daunting. So far, most of the cast has taken shape, with the likes of Paapa Essiedu starring as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer<\/a> as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid<\/a>, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore<\/a>, Dominic McLaughlin as the titular Boy Who Lived, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.<\/p>\n

Even the second season’s cast is currently coming together, with some big names added. Recently, Rafe Spall<\/a> was added as Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter Season 2<\/a>, joining the likes of Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle and Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey. Most notably, Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington<\/a> was chosen to portray Gilderoy Lockhart, taking over from Nicholas Hoult, who had to step down due to scheduling conflicts. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will finally debut on December 25, 2026, on HBO Max, with eight episodes airing for an estimated one hour per installment.<\/p>\n

Collider Exclusive \u00b7 The Sorting Hat Awaits
\n Which Hogwarts House Are You?
\n Gryffindor \u00b7 Slytherin \u00b7 Hufflepuff \u00b7 Ravenclaw<\/p>\n

Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students \u2014 now it’s your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd81Gryffindor<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc0dSlytherin<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udda1Hufflepuff<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd85Ravenclaw<\/p>\n

\n PLACE THE HAT \u2192\n <\/p>\n

01<\/p>\n

What quality do you value most in yourself?
\n Answer as honestly as you can \u2014 the Hat always knows.<\/p>\n

\n ACourage \u2014 I act even when I’m afraid, because what’s right matters more than what’s safe.
\n BAmbition \u2014 I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there.
\n CLoyalty \u2014 I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me.
\n DWisdom \u2014 I think before I act and I’m always hungry to understand more.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

02<\/p>\n

A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do?
\n How you protect others says everything about who you are.<\/p>\n

\n AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible \u2014 I won’t stand by.
\n BWork out the best strategy to address it \u2014 a smart move beats a rash one.
\n CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need.
\n DAnalyse what’s actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

03<\/p>\n

What does success look like to you?
\n What you’re working toward defines who you’re becoming.<\/p>\n

\n ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds.
\n BAchieving the goals I set for myself \u2014 influence, status, and earned respect.
\n CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always.
\n DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

04<\/p>\n

What is your greatest fear?
\n Fear is the most honest thing about a person.<\/p>\n

\n ABeing a coward when it mattered \u2014 looking back and knowing I did nothing.
\n BMediocrity \u2014 fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world.
\n CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most.
\n DIgnorance \u2014 being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

05<\/p>\n

The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do?
\n Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.<\/p>\n

\n ABreak the rules \u2014 if it’s the right thing to do, no rule should stop me.
\n BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines.
\n CProbably follow the rules \u2014 but I’d find a way to help within them if I could.
\n DThink it through carefully \u2014 is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

06<\/p>\n

What kind of friend are you?
\n Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.<\/p>\n

\n AThe protector \u2014 I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about.
\n BThe strategist \u2014 I give sharp advice and I’m the one who figures out how to fix things.
\n CThe constant \u2014 I’m always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me.
\n DThe guide \u2014 I help people think things through and see perspectives they’ve missed.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

07<\/p>\n

You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see?
\n The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.<\/p>\n

\n AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won.
\n BYourself at the height of your power \u2014 respected, successful, and in control.
\n CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together.
\n DYourself with all the answers \u2014 every book read, every mystery solved.\n <\/p>\n

NEXT QUESTION \u2192<\/p>\n

08<\/p>\n

The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: “You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you \u2014 truly?”
\n This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.<\/p>\n

\n ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won’t.
\n BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary.
\n CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down.
\n DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.\n <\/p>\n

REVEAL MY HOUSE \u2192<\/p>\n

The Sorting Hat Speaks
\n Your House Has Been Chosen<\/p>\n

After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.<\/p>\n

Gryffindor Tower \u00b7 Scarlet & Gold\n <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd81 Gryffindor<\/p>\n

You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified \u2014 especially then.<\/p>\n

Gryffindors don’t act because they’re fearless \u2014 they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
\n You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
\n You charge toward what’s right even when the odds are terrible.
\n Harry, Hermione, Ron \u2014 the heroes of Hogwarts’s greatest chapter \u2014 all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.<\/p>\n

Slytherin Dungeon \u00b7 Emerald & Silver\n <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc0d Slytherin<\/p>\n

You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.<\/p>\n

Slytherin has long been misunderstood \u2014 painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
\n You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
\n You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
\n The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours \u2014 and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.<\/p>\n

Hufflepuff Basement \u00b7 Yellow & Black\n <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udda1 Hufflepuff<\/p>\n

You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.<\/p>\n

Hufflepuff is not the “safe” house or the “leftover” house \u2014 it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
\n You show up. You work hard. You don’t need glory or recognition \u2014 you do what’s right because it’s right.
\n Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
\n Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander \u2014 some of the wizarding world’s finest. And now you join them.<\/p>\n

Ravenclaw Tower \u00b7 Blue & Bronze\n <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd85 Ravenclaw<\/p>\n

Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.<\/p>\n

Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
\n Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence \u2014 it’s about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don’t know something yet.
\n You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
\n Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself \u2014 all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.<\/p>\n

\n \u21bb RETAKE THE QUIZ\n <\/p>\n

The ‘Harry Potter’ Cast Isn’t Entirely Composed of New Names<\/p>\n

Of all the aforementioned talented new names joining the Wizarding World, there is one bit of consistency, with original cast member Warwick Davis<\/a> featuring in the new series after portraying the likes of Charms Professor Flitwick and Goblin Griphook in the film franchise. Recently, Davis spoke about reviving his classic character for the new series to the Press Association, admitting that the “character has been one of my favourite characters to play in my career.” He continued:<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s a very warm, kind of likeable character, as far as I\u2019m concerned. I actually based him a lot on some of my teachers. He\u2019s the kind of teacher you could say you\u2019d forgotten your homework and they wouldn\u2019t mind. They\u2019d say, \u2018OK, don\u2019t do it again, but don\u2019t worry about it for now\u2019. To be asked to come back and play him again for the series was a huge honour, and I\u2019m excited to retell these stories because they\u2019re fantastic stories.”<\/p>\n

Davis joins a packed cast for the HBO Harry Potter series. Also featuring in the upcoming first season are Orson Matthews as Oliver Wood, Asha Soetan as Angelina Johnson, Eire Farrell as Katie Bell, D\u2019Angelou Osei-Kissiedu as Graham Montague, Dylan Heath as Adrian Pucey, Cornelius Brandreth as Terence Higgs, and many more.<\/p>\n

Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the upcoming series.<\/p>\n

\"harry-potter-poster.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Release Date<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t2026 – 2026<\/p>\n

Showrunner<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrancisca Gardiner<\/p>\n

Directors<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Mylod<\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/p>\n

Dominic McLaughlin<\/p>\n

\n Harry Potter\n <\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/p>\n

Arabella Stanton<\/p>\n

\n Hermione Granger\n <\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/p>\n

Alastair Stout<\/p>\n

\n Ron Weasley\n <\/p>\n

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