Harry Potter fans- what do we think of the HBO show casting so far?

[AngeloMysterioso]

John Lithgow self-confirmed as Dumbledore;
Paapa Essiedu very heavily rumoured as Snape;
Janet McTeer apparently "in talks" to play McGonagall;
Phoebe Waller-Bridge rumoured as Petunia Dursley.

(Admittedly most of these are still conjecture).

For my part... I'm not sure about most of them. John Lithgow is a fantastic actor and did a brilliant job with Churchill, but he's nearly 80... I know Dumbledore's meant to be 100-and-something but as a character he's still very virile and powerful, and I'm not sure he'll be able to do that justice.

Paapa Essiedu as Snape. I thought he was great in Gangs of London, does a really good job with a quietly calculating, slightly sinister character with plenty of gravitas. But he's rather gorgeous, and Snape is not meant to be at all attractive. And, let's not beat around the bush... he's black. I'm not at all against colourblind casting where appropriate (Bridgerton, fantastic- black Anne Boleyn, half-Chinese Bess of Hardwick, not so much). I don't know how it will be possible to show the backstory of James, Sirius, Remus and Peter loathing and bullying Snape without it coming across as being in any way racially motivated, plus the optics of black person=villain isn't great (yes I know he is redeemed right at the very very end). If I were to give him a role, I'd have cast him as Remus. Still the same strong, serious, don't-mess-with-me vibe but without the menace and evil.

Janet McTeer as McGonagall- no problems there. She's excellent in everything I've seen her in, it'll be hard for anyone to fill Maggie Smith's shoes but hopefully she'll be up to the task.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Petunia... I wasn't sure at first but I'm hoping she'll be able to bring her comedy chops to the table and make the character funny as well as intensely unlikeable. I'm trying to imagine who could play Vernon opposite her though?

Interested to hear other people's thoughts about the cast so far and who they'd like to have in what roles if it's possible?

I think I'd give Tonks to Daisy Edgar-Jones, Voldemort to Benedict Cumberbatch, Lockhart to Glen Powell (is there scope to make that character American? I think so), Perhaps Kit Harington as Sirius and I think Natalie Dormer could absolutely go to town with Trelawney.

What do we think?

Honestly. I think if this doesn't work in fans heads it will tank.

What ever you think of the films and the teachers and adult casting is excellent in all the films. Then the fans won't tolerate it.

HP fans are extremely vocal and won't watch it.

Personally I think it's too soon for a remake.

That actor is NOT Snape. I could see him in several other roles.
The other three I think should be good.
They are going to need to be careful or the hardcore fans won’t watch it.

I think they have to get it bang on for it too work. The new generation of potter fans will take to it better. I’m on the fence, I’m intrigued to see who will play who etc and how they will do it but I know for sure it won’t hold a candle to the films.

John Lithgow is too old

I think they are right to go off piste for Snape far too many people will compare him to film Snape no other actor will come close but is it a step too far?

Oh DH and I were discussing potential casting for this the other day and annoyingly I can't remember half the people I thought of. But I do think John Lithgow is too old.

I think Matt Smith would be a good Lockhart. I also thought of Benedict Cumberbatch for Voldemort and I think Janet McTeer is a good choice (if that's confirmed).
I'd definitely have Olivia Coleman as Umbridge.

Personally I think it's too soon for a remake.

I mainly agree, but so much is missed from the films (including frankly important plot points) that I think a tv show done right could be popular.

I'm honestly open to anyone in the adults roles!
I just hope they get the kids casting right... because in the films I didnt think any of them were very good, apart from Neville, Luna and Draco.

I think Andrew Scott would be a good Sirius (or Lupin). But if they're casting Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Paapa Essiedu then it looks like they're making that generation much closer to the ages they are in the book. And I don't think Andrew Scott can realistically play an old classmate of Paapa Essiedu's.

No not Olivia Coleman. Can't stand her but am 99% sure she will be cast in a role as she has to be in everything British for some reason.
I think it'd be nice to have some new names.

Snape’s character does not work as him being black - as you say OP it brings a racial element into the back story of him being bullied by James and co (unless they are planning to make James and Harry black too?). This just seems like colour blind casting for the sake of it. Essiedu is a good actor, but I don’t think it’s a great idea to make one of the main antagonists black. And I say this as someone who is mixed race. It’s just a really bizarre choice for that character..

My vote would be Adam driver for snape.

I also don't like her, but I was thinking of Fleabag where her Stepmother character is a smiling face with a tinkly laugh but actually a complete bitch who knows exactly what she's saying. Giggly and simpering with an undercurrent of evil.

John Lithgow... I was disappointed, after the fuss with the films about the actors being British, that the first announcement wasn't a British actor. Also I agree he may be too old... this is a 7 year minimum job.

Paapa... I suspected that at least one of the major teachers (dumbledore, Snape, mcgonagall or Hagrid) would be played by a Black actor. I actually thought maybe Jo Martin for Mcgonagall.

I think David Tennant would have made a good Dumbledore but he's unlikely to get involved in a Harry Potter project

But he's rather gorgeous, and Snape is not meant to be at all attractive

Not like that minger Alan Rickman 😂

Thought I'd ask ChatGPT for its suggestions!!

Albus Dumbledore – Mark Rylance or Bill Nighy: Both have the gravitas and warmth needed.

Severus Snape – Andrew Scott or Ben Whishaw: Scott could bring intensity, while Whishaw would add quiet menace.

Minerva McGonagall – Olivia Colman or Helen Mirren: Colman has warmth and authority, Mirren has pure gravitas.

Rubeus Hagrid – Rory McCann (The Hound from Game of Thrones): His size and gruff charm would work.

Lord Voldemort – Ralph Fiennes (again) or Cillian Murphy: Fiennes could reprise the role, while Murphy would bring eerie intensity.

Sirius Black – Richard Armitage or Tom Hiddleston: Armitage has the brooding quality, Hiddleston would be a charismatic choice.

Remus Lupin – James McAvoy or David Tennant: McAvoy could nail the kind but troubled teacher.

Lucius Malfoy – Matt Smith or Richard E. Grant: Both exude cold arrogance.

Bellatrix Lestrange – Jodie Comer or Hayley Atwell: Comer’s versatility is perfect for Bellatrix’s madness.

Molly Weasley – Lesley Manville or Sarah Lancashire: Both have warmth but can be fierce.

John Lithgow is too old.

Having though more about it, it really doesn't make sense for Snaps to be black. I think literally any other character could be cast as any other race and it would still be fine, but the Snape storyline is too specific. Say that wizarding world really is colour blind and there is no racism (even though many of them live among muggles). Still, Lily is from a muggle family, and surely would view the bullying of Snape with racism in mind. We the audience live in a society where a group of white boys dangling a black boy from a tree carries particular connotations. Also, Snape is himself drawn to "racist" ideology as a young man. He's like a typical incel. He doesn't succeed socially or romantically, and turns towards racist ideologies against "mudbloods" partially as a result. Snape's conflict is that he's in love with Lily, despite her inferior (in his eyes) muggle pedigree. I think that this is a very clumsy and confused story to tell about a black character.

I think David Tennant would have made a good Dumbledore but he's unlikely to get involved in a Harry Potter project

That's a good point.

Separately, I wonder if they'll re-use any actors from the films (just came to mind as David Tennant was in film 4). No reason why someone who had relatively little screen time (like Tennant, but not him) couldn't be someone else if they're right for it. Not that the tv show would actively seek it out, but do you think they'd specifically rule it out?

Snape was pale and sallow. It's just not right for this role.

Alan Rickman was too old but more believable.

Alan Rickman I will always fancy after Sense and Sensibility. However he was too old to play Snape I think. Snape should be in his 40s.

I kind of agree about the colourblind casting as prejudice is such a huge theme in the books. Although I suppose it's all linked to blood status and we don't actually get any idea of whether there is any racial prejudice in the Wizarding World. Although Snape is also a half blood we know.

I hope they get some decent child actors this time.

Also it is frankly too early for a new adaptation- they should have waited another decade or so. I'm very much the aged along with Harry Potter millennial generation and we are too young to have forgotten the films plus our kids are still mainly pretty young.

From the ChatGPT list, I like Cillian Murphy as Voldemort!

What about Barry Keoghan as Snape? (too young probably)

I will withhold judgement until I've seen it.
I hated the films so I just hope the TV version stays closer to the books and doesn't have to miss so much out.

He's 32 but I could see it. Definitely can play the awkward lonor thing.

What about Ian Hart as Dumbledore, or even Voldemort? That would be cool. He's a much more imposing figure these days than he was.

If Lily and James married straight out of school they (and Snape) could be just 20 years older than Harry.

Yes, they were something like 21 when they died? I remember doing the math as a child when I got to that part in the books and being scandalized. As I recall Harry was a year old when they died, so I surmised that Lily had gotten pregnant at around 19. I had never heard of such a thing when I was young! 😂 But yes, Snape/Sirius/Lupin would be in their early 30s at the start.

Paapa Essiedu really would not work as Snape. Snape is probably the most heavily physically described character in the books. There are constant mentions of his hooked nose, his pale, sallow skin, and his long, greasy “curtain” of black hair. Someone mentioned Adam Driver above and I think he would manage it, especially (forgive me) with his prominent nose.

I also like ChatGPT’s suggestion of Richard Armitage for Sirius quite a bit.