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?

I agree that JKR would be okay with the casting, but I think that it really did work with Hermione because she's explicitly a victim of racism in the books, since she's a Muggle.

I always thought that the film Malfoys were coded as "Aryan master-race" types via their white blond hair - but maybe I read too much into it.

I think Keira Knightley would make an excellent Bellatrix Lestrange.

Totally agree with this. Please let's not have all the usual suspects, much as I like lots of them e.g. Olivia Coleman, Ben Wishaw etc. I'd like it to be much more original. I rolled my eyes when Gary Oldman and Ralph Fiennes etc turned up in the films

I do think that the series does have the advantage of the books all being out, compared to when the first films were coming out before all the books had been released.

I agree. But anything Rowling was aware of that would happen in upcoming books I think she made sure wasn't contradicted in an earlier film.

But obviously she didn't have every detail planned out.

Yeah but now could you imagine anyone else doing Sirius and Voldemort justice? Sirius is my fave character and when the movies came out I was worried how he would get portrayed but Gary old man nailed it

I picture Sirius a bit like Captain Hook in Once Upon a Time

Cumberbatch as Voldemort
Coleman as Umbridge
Armitage as Severus
Nighy as Dumbledore

These I can see. While I'm generally a fan of colour blind casting, I don't think he's a good choice for Snape. Too likely race would overwhelm the other issues between Snape and James Potter.

Andrew Scott could also play Voldemort, or at least Mr Malfoy.

The actors playing Draco, Luna and Neville were great.

Yes!!! to Hugh Grant playing Lockhart!
Glenister as Mad Eye would work

Keoghan/Cillian could carry Snape.

They can only improve on the films. The acting was mostly appalling, particularly by the kids. And obviously they had to cut a lot so a lot of nuance was missed. I’m wary of Americans playing British characters as often they just can’t manage the accent. Donald Sutherland as Mr Bennett in Pride and Prejudice is a particular low for me.

I would prefer the casting and the adaptation overall to be faithful to the books. If they want to make a Harry-Potter-style series that isn’t quite Harry Potter, they should just call it something else. JKR was usually quite specific about the ethnicity of the characters. In a British context Hermione would be good as British-Indian, but then she wouldn’t be called Hermione! Clearly she’s meant to be white and slightly posh.

I don’t like colour-blind casting as I find it harder to buy into a series if the casting isn’t contextually appropriate. To increase representation I’d prefer different types of programmes to be made. How about an adaptation of Americanah?!

Ooh Barry Keoghan as Snape is an amazing shout!

@Samandytimlucypeterolivia Yeah but now could you imagine anyone else doing Sirius and Voldemort justice? Sirius is my fave character and when the movies came out I was worried how he would get portrayed but Gary old man nailed it
I certainly can imagine other actors in those roles. I've got British acting royalty fatigue!

Shaun Evans in Endeavour looks exactly how I picture Lupin, but sadly he's probably too old now.

Love the suggestion of Jodie Comer as Bellatrix, she'd be amazing!

Adam Driver as Snape is inspired!

Did anyone ever see the send up that French and Saunders did of the chamber of secrets for comic relief about 20 years ago?

Alison steadman played McGonagall and she was unexpectedly brilliant. Jeremy irons was Snape.

I imagine this is why they did open casting, although they will probably use experienced actors with parents in the business. 8 years is a lot and anyone putting their child through this would have to know exactly what they’re in for. I used to work on sets as a dresser and some of the parents of the actor kids were very annoying. One even told me how to do my job once! My money is on either Billy or Mabel from Bridget Jones making the final 3. Preference for Mabel/Mila Jankovich as Hermione as she is one of best kid performances I’ve seen in a while but Casper Knopf is also wonderful but maybe too under stated/unmagical for Harry. I’d also love to see Barry Keoghan as Voldemort, Ellie White as Molly Weasley and think the casting so far is excellent. I can’t make my mind up on Hagrid but liked the Brett Goldstein idea as he has a magic in his eye. I really don’t see why the cast actors need to be either British or white. It needs to be a departure from the film or it will be endlessly compared to it and disappointed. My DP, also in the industry, gives it one season.

Ellie White as Molly Weasley

The actress from The Windsors?

Molly Weasley has two sons who have left school by the start of book one, so needs someone at least mid 40s.

I can’t make my mind up on Hagrid but liked the Brett Goldstein idea

Yes I think he'd be good.

It needs to be a departure from the film or it will be endlessly compared to it

I agree, and I think that's what puts me off Adam Driver as Snape. I think it would be like they want him to basically be playing Alan Rickman playing Snape.

Would also like to see some young actors cast as Harrys parents. I think Ellie W is late 30s/earty 40s. I just think shes brilliant and would put her in everything!

Who is the guy who plays Lafayette in the original Hamilton?

He needs to be Peeves!

I hope they have a Harry and Ginny with better chemistry as well, the film scenes with them together are just painful.

I guess it's tricky to gauge future chemistry when you're casting pre-pubescents!

That’s very true! I just hope they’re not as bad as the film 😅

I read somewhere that the casting will be more in line with the age of characters in the books - so Snape, Lupin, Sirius and Pettigrew, Lily and James and Petunia and Vernon will all have to be around mid-30s at the start of filming.

Except Lily and James, who are dead, so younger than when we meet the rest!