What do we know about HBO's new Harry Potter series after Scottish actor cast?

Harry Potter will return to the screen as part of a new HBO television series, with a young Scottish actor cast to play Harry.

The streaming giant announced on Tuesday that Dominic McLaughlin will play the protagonist Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will be Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley.

It comes after major actors such as John Lithgow and Nick Frost were cast for the show which begins production this summer.

Potterheads will get to see a new side of the wizarding world with the show to focus on adapting the books of author and executive producer JK Rowling.

Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe when they were cast in the Harry Potter Films in 2000. Getty Images

The Harry Potter franchise has already been made into eight blockbuster movies, with the final film hitting the big screen in 2011.

Since then, spinoff movies under the Fantastic Beasts franchise have been made starring Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.

But HBO’s new series promises to bring new faces to the already established names.

Who is in the cast?

Dominic McLaughlin will take the lead role as Harry Potter in the new series.

The Scottish actor has appeared in productions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh.

He performed alongside three-time Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the Potter movies.

Production company SC Films confirmed that Dominic recently filmed the Sky Originals family comedy film Grow opposite Nick Frost.

John Lithgow (left) to play Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu (centre) to play Snape and Luke Thallon (right) to play Quirrell. Jessica Howes/Ruth Crafer/Phil Sharp

He is also to appear in the upcoming BBC action adventure series Gifted, which saw more than 3,000 Scottish children apply to be on the show.

The Performance Academy Scotland confirmed McLaughlin spent a number of years with them.

They said the news was “magical”.

A spokesperson said: “We are not sure that this will ever feel real but we said from the start that Dominic was the perfect Harry and we are thrilled for everyone else to see this soon too.

“Dominic, we will forever be proud of you. We have had an incredible journey with you these last five years at TPA and can’t wait for what’s next on this journey.

“We are extremely proud to represent you and can’t wait to go on this wizarding journey together.”

Arabella Stanton will be Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley after a casting call in September saw around 32,000 children audition for the lead roles.

HBO reviewed more than 1,000 tapes per day after it was previously stipulated that the three young child actors must be residents of the UK or Ireland, and aged between nine and 11 on April 2025.

Other actors announced for the show include John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.

Luke Thallon will play the first book’s main antagonist Quirinus Quirrell, and Welsh comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse as Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch.

What will the new Harry Potter show be about?

The series will focus on adapting Rowling’s books for TV, with each series to follow the arc of the seven novels.

Fans can expect season one to be centred around the events of the Philosopher’s Stone, in which Harry and co first arrive at Hogwarts.

They are faced with navigating a series of dangerous tasks with Harry eventually facing Voldemort for the first time on screen in the form of Hogwarts teacher Quirinus Quirrell.

Dragon breathing fire at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. — Dragon breathing fire at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. iStock

Reports suggest the series will then follow chronologically through Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and finally the Deathly Hallows.

In 2023, however, Warner Bros. Discovery said the stories from each of the books will become “a decade-long series”, suggesting it could last longer than seven seasons.

Is JK Rowling involved and will the show be filmed in Scotland?

JK Rowling will serve as executive producer on the show, but it is not clear if any of the series will be filmed in Scotland.

Rowling maintains ownership over key aspects of Harry Potter intellectual property – with the books, films, video games and theatrical shows estimated to be worth £20bn.

She said all three young actors cast to play Harry, Ron and Hermione were “wonderful” and that she “couldn’t be happier” they will be involved.

Iconic locations such as the Glenfinnan Viaduct appeared in the films, with Rowling taking inspiration for places in the books from sites in Edinburgh, Glen Coe and Fort William.

Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct became famous around the world as the route of the Hogwarts Express. iStock

Edinburgh, where Rowling wrote the early stages of the books, has a number of tourist spots for Potter fans to visit dotted around the city.

The series is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner, while Mark Mylod will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes of the series.

Upon announcing the casting for Harry, Ron and Hermione, they said: “After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

“The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen.

“We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.”