The Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz star will succeed the late Robbie Coltrane in the role of Hagrid, Harry\u2019s giant wizard friend, in the series of TV adaptations of JK Rowling<\/a>\u2019s bestsellers. The series launches on HBO on Christmas Day, and has been beset by intrigue and controversy since its announcement.<\/p>\n In a new interview, Frost said that he had attempted to honour Coltrane\u2019s performance in the role while adding his own flavour to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve tried to take what Robbie did and honour that \u2026 but also I\u2019ve got eight hours here each series, while Robbie had two and a half \u2013 there has to be a bit more to him,\u201d Frost told The Times<\/a>. \u201cSo: he\u2019s from Bristol. He\u2019s nice, a bit quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n Frost added that he drew in part from his uncle, named Emy, who \u201cnever grew up\u201d after being diagnosed with scarlet fever as a child in the 1950s. He also said that he drew inspiration from Michael Clarke Duncan\u2019s \u201chuge, violent but childlike\u201d character in the Stephen King adaptation The Green Mile.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people won\u2019t like it,\u201d Frost said. \u201cThey\u2019ll go, \u2018Not my Hagrid.\u2019 And that is all right.\u201d<\/p>\n Frost previously spoke about joining the world of Harry Potter when asked for comment on Rowling, who has repeatedly come under fire<\/a> for various comments about gender ideology. Many, including stars of the Potter film adaptations, have accused her of transphobia.<\/p>\n While John Lithgow, who will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, called the backlash to his casting \u201codd\u201d<\/a>, Frost said that he understood the blowback but reiterated that he did not agree with Rowling\u2019s views.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s allowed her opinion and I\u2019m allowed mine \u2013 they just don\u2019t align in any way, shape or form,\u201d he said last year. He added that he thought the controversy \u201cshouldn\u2019t blow over\u201d, adding: \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier. Maybe we should educate ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Frost\u2019s opinion echoed that of Paapa Essiedu, who will play Severus Snape. Shortly after his casting was announced, the actor was among the hundreds of TV and film professionals who signed a letter calling for industry action on trans rights<\/a>. After Essiedu\u2019s appearance as a signatory on the letter, an \u201cinsider\u201d told MailOnline<\/a> that Rowling would \u201cnot be bothered one iota by Essiedu\u2019s decision \u2013 and wouldn\u2019t dream of intervening to get him sacked, despite being heavily involved in the project\u201d.<\/p>\n Addressing this report X\/Twitter, Rowling wrote: \u201cI don\u2019t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn\u2019t exercise it if I did. I don\u2019t believe in taking away people\u2019s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Rowling has become ostracised from many of the stars of the Potter movies, notably Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, due to her views on trans rights \u2013 and she previously said she would not forgive the actors for criticising her opinions, telling them to \u201csave their apologies\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Harry Potter series continues to cast up ahead of production beginning on the show\u2019s second season, which will adapt the second novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Harry-Potter-(2).png\")
Nick Frost, and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the original \u2018Potter\u2019 films (Getty\/Warner Bros)<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_8619.jpeg\")
Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid in HBO\u2019s forthcoming Harry Potter series (HBO)<\/p>\n
![\"Dominic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-03-30-at-08-19-16.png\")
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter (HBO Max)<\/p>\n