HBO’s Harry Potter adds James Potter, Lily Potter and Charlie Weasley

By Elena Vasquez

What changes in the new casting?

HBO’s “Harry Potter” series has added three actors for Season 1. Harry Gilby has joined as Charlie Weasley. Jasper Talbot plays James Potter, while Hannah Chinn plays Lily Potter. All three will appear in the season titled “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Charlie is Ron Weasley’s older brother, a minor figure in the books who never appeared in the films. James and Lily, Harry Potter’s parents, appeared in the movies through flashbacks, photographs and magical manifestations. Their screen histories differ sharply: James and Lily appeared in existing film material, while Charlie represents a move beyond the films and within Rowling’s novels.

Takeaway: The casting includes two familiar parents and gives Charlie his first screen appearance.

What does Season 1 establish?

Season 1 premieres on HBO on Dec. 25. It carries the title “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” Season 2 production is underway at Leavesden Studios outside London, where the team is adapting the second book in J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

The Season 1 logline reads:

“There is nothing special about Harry Potter — or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure.”

“Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.”

Takeaway: The first season has a firm premiere date, while Season 2 already has an active filming base.

Who appears across Season 1?

Across the listed first-season roster, the series places students, relatives, educators and authority figures within one screen adaptation of Rowling’s opening novel.

• Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter; Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger; Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
• John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore; Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall; Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape; Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
• Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom; Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy; Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan; Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas.
• Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley; Gabriel Harland as George Weasley; Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley; Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil.
• Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown; Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe; William Nash as Gregory Goyle; Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick.
• Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout; Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley; Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley; Paul Whitehouse as Argus Flitch.
• Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy; Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge; Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell; Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.
• Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley; Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley; Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns; Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch.
• Bríd Brennan as Poppy Pomfrey; Leigh Gill as Griphook; Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.

Takeaway: The three additions bring the listed Season 1 roster to 37 performers.

Who joins Season 2?

HBO’s second-season casting adds seven performers and identifies Kit Harington as a “Game of Thrones” favorite.

• Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart.
• Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley.
• Lenny Rush as Dobby.
• Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle.
• Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley.
• Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle.
• Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey.

The announcements name Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley in Season 1 and Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley in Season 2. The second-season slate broadens the announced ensemble by seven performers while production, already underway at Leavesden Studios, continues adapting the second novel in the franchise.

Takeaway: Season 2 adds seven performers while its Leavesden production continues.

Who makes and represents the series?

Francesca Gardiner writes and executive produces the series. Mark Mylod executive produces and directs multiple episodes for HBO, in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television.

Other executive producers are J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, David Heyman of Heyday Films, Laura Neal and Jon Brown. Eight named people hold executive-producer credits across the series, with Gardiner also responsible for the writing and Mylod directing multiple episodes for HBO.

The casting also comes with named agency representation. Gilby is represented by Independent Talent Group and Untitled Entertainment. Talbot is represented by United Agents. Chinn is represented by 42.

Takeaway: The next fixed milestone is the Dec. 25 premiere, with Season 2 already filming at Leavesden.