Harry Potter Series Finds Its James and Lily Potter, Plus Charlie Weasley
Mischief managed, casting-wise.
HBO's Harry Potter series has found Harry's parents. Jasper Talbot will play James Potter and Hannah Chinn will play Lily Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the show's first season (The Hollywood Reporter).
The series also added Harry Gilby as Charlie Weasley, the second-oldest Weasley brother and the one who works with dragons in Romania. Gilby played the young J.R.R. Tolkien in the 2019 movie Tolkien and also appeared in The Last Kingdom (Deadline).
How big are James and Lily's roles?
That part is still a mystery. Harry's parents are already gone when the first book starts, because Voldemort killed them when Harry was only a baby. Lily's sacrifice is what protects Harry and leaves him with his lightning bolt scar. Deadline points out that the movies barely showed them, and HBO hasn't said how much screen time they'll get.
The first book does give them a few big moments, though. Harry sees his parents in the Mirror of Erised, and he remembers a flash of green light from the night they died. If the show leans into those scenes, Talbot and Chinn could matter more than their screen time suggests (bring tissues).
Who else is in HBO's Harry Potter cast?
The cast is already huge, with Dominic McLaughlin playing Harry alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron. John Lithgow is Dumbledore, Janet McTeer is McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu is Snape and Nick Frost is Hagrid. Katherine Parkinson and Rafe Spall play Molly and Arthur Weasley, so Charlie now has his parents too (The Hollywood Reporter).
Season 2, based on Chamber of Secrets, is already moving too, with Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart and Lenny Rush as Dobby. The one big name still missing is Voldemort, and HBO hasn't announced who will play him (SYFY Wire).
When does Harry Potter premiere on HBO?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO and HBO Max on December 25 (merry Christmas, Muggles). Francesca Gardiner writes and executive produces the series, and Mark Mylod directs multiple episodes. Each season is planned to adapt one book.
My read is that casting the Potters this close to launch means HBO wants those flashback moments to land. Fans have argued about the movies cutting so much from the books for 25 years, and a TV season gives the show room to slow down.
If you want to reread the first book before Christmas, here are two good options. As an Amazon Associate, Church of Nerds earns from qualifying purchases.
Header image and in-article still are from HBO's Harry Potter, courtesy of HBO.
