Posted in: HBO, TV | Tagged: harry potter

Harry Potter Series Eyeing McTeer/McGonagall, Essiedu/Snape: Report

HBO's Harry Potter is reportedly close to signing Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape.

Published Fri, 07 Mar 2025 11:08:07 -0600

by Ray Flook

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If you're Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO and Warner Bros. TV, then you know that a whole lot of folks are going to be paying attention when you announce a multi-season series adaptation of bestselling author J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" novels – for a whole number of reasons. For a while, the most we were getting was from showrunner/writer Francesca Gardiner and director/EP Mark Mylod, but nothing definitive casting-wise. That seemingly changed when Emmy Award-winner John Lithgow (Dexter, The Crown) pretty much confirmed his casting as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Since that time, fans have been dialing up their radars for any additional news that could be on the way. They got that earlier today.

Though not officially confirmed by the main parties involved in the production, Deadline Hollywood is reporting exclusively that Janet McTeer (KAOS) "is in negotiations" to play Professor Minerva McGonagall. In addition, it appears that some earlier rumors could prove to be true, with Paapa Essiedu (The Lazarus Effect) "closing his deal" to portray Professor Severus Snape. For their part, HBO had this to say: "We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals."

Harry Potter: Some of What We Know So Far…

Revealing that 32,000 young actors auditioned for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, Gardiner shared back in December 2024 that she "devoured" the books when she was 14 years old and that Rowling's novels offer a "bigger sandpit to play in" than the films. In terms of other characters' ages, we learned that the series is looking to keep them in canon (meaning Snape would be in his really Early 30s, and the Dursleys would be much younger than their big-screen counterparts). Other details shared by Gardiner included how the series will focus more on the Hogwarts staff and "having fun with [poltergeist] Peeves in the corridor." Mylod added that viewers should expect the series to "dig into the depths and crevices of Hogwarts."

The stories from each of Rowling's Harry Potter books will become (from the initial statement that was released when the series news first dropped) "a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love, and care this global franchise is known for. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic, and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally."

The series is written and executive-produced by showrunner Francesca Gardiner (Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve). Mark Mylod (Succession, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.

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