Casting News & Speculation: Polyjuice Potion Transformations

[Meredith Quill]

Casting News & Wishlist Talk.

[Harvey]

Some casting updates:
 

Quote

 

The first name to make the rounds was Oscar winner Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the movies. Mark Strong more recently emerged as a prospect for the part, along with I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu for Potions Master Snape, originated by the late Alan Rickman in the films.

The rumor mill also has been hyping of late Emmy-nominated Bad Sisters co-creator/star Sharon Horgan as being eyed for Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, portrayed by the late Maggie Smith in the movies.

 

https://deadline.com/2024/12/harry-potter-casting-rumors-sharon-horgan-brett-goldstein-mark-strong-1236196667/

[BetterButter]

John Lithgow Nears Deal To Play Dumbledore In HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series

[BetterButter]

John Lithgow Confirms Iconic 'Harry Potter' Casting in Career-Defining Role

[Mr. Sparkle]

I don't see it, but I'll give him a chance. 

[Camera One]

Me too, I was hoping they would cast less well-known character actors.

[Phebemarie]

Lithgow can disappear into a character.  He was fantastic as Winston Churchill in The Crown.

[Camera One]

True.  Though I did watch him in "The Crown", when I think of him, I always see his character from "3rd Rock From The Sun".

[BetterButter]

‘Harry Potter’: Janet McTeer In Negotiations To Play McGonagall; Paapa Essiedu Near Deal To Play Snape In HBO Series

[BetterButter]

‘Harry Potter’: Nick Frost Poised To Play Hagrid In HBO Series

[Mr. Sparkle]

On 2/25/2025 at 3:00 PM, Mr. Sparkle said:

I don't see it, but I'll give him a chance. 

I wonder how many times I'll say this before the first episode airs. 

[BetterButter]

‘Harry Potter’ HBO Series Confirms Casting for Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid and More Hogwarts Staffers

[Avaleigh]

Excited that they're making real progress on getting the series up and running. 

Nick Frost and Janet McTeer are brilliant choices. Also cool that Sir Cadogan is getting some justice. ;)

[Which Tyler]

On 3/7/2025 at 5:47 PM, BetterButter said:

‘Harry Potter’: Janet McTeer In Negotiations To Play McGonagall; Paapa Essiedu Near Deal To Play Snape In HBO Series

I have some concerns here. Not for his acting chops, but... Snape is the only bad-guy cast so far (I ignore Quirrell as a nothingburger), and also the only black actor.

 

I think explicitly a few seasons in, James and Sirius literally hanging a black man under a tree - years before the start of the "redemption arc" <spits>
Anyone else remember the grief that American Gods got for the lynching scene?
In a show that was NOT for children, and had the easy defence of "yeah, that's the whole... blooming... point Jeremy!"

 

ETA: is there an agreed upon male / gender-neutral name to use instead of "Karen"?

ETA2: any chance we can refer to the show as "HP-TV (not transvestite)"? Just to wind up JKR

Edited April 15 by Which Tyler

[Avaleigh]

13 hours ago, Which Tyler said:

I have some concerns here. Not for his acting chops, but... Snape is the only bad-guy cast so far (I ignore Quirrell as a nothingburger), and also the only black actor.

 

I think explicitly a few seasons in, James and Sirius literally hanging a black man under a tree - years before the start of the "redemption arc" <spits>
Anyone else remember the grief that American Gods got for the lynching scene?
In a show that was NOT for children, and had the easy defence of "yeah, that's the whole... blooming... point Jeremy!"

 

ETA: is there an agreed upon male / gender-neutral name to use instead of "Karen"?

ETA2: any chance we can refer to the show as "HP-TV (not transvestite)"? Just to wind up JKR

Yeah, there are some problematic elements here, but this role is set, so I'm just assuming that they're planning on making the changes that will be necessary to make the bullying scenes work. Perhaps one or two of the Marauders will be POC? In any case, I'd be very surprised if they decided to choose to hang Snape upside down in front of a tree in this adaptation. Maybe it'll happen in a corridor or in Hogsmeade? There are a lot of steps they can take to make it less problematic. 

It might be a little awkward if Harry immediately starts being suspicious of and later hating the only (so far) Black teacher on staff, but my guess is that the cast will be diverse enough for this to not be an issue.