JKR and new HP HBO tie up

[mids2019]

So JKR is going to be executive producer for the multi-million 10 year Harry Potter franchise on HBO. There is no way a company would risk huge amounts of money if there was a significant chance of people boycotting the films due to JKR's pro women's views.

Also her views are so well known that any new actors taking parts presumably cannot suddenly start criticising her after making lucrative careers for themselves after starring in the films!

The problem with David Tennant is he played Barty Crouch Jnr. That's all I can see him as.

Bellatrix was supposed to be pretty I think, but unhinged.

Black Hermione would be great. The Potters could be Asian - Harry half Asian with green eyes?

Lockheart - who would play him?

I really don't know about Hagrid. I do think Robbie Coltrane will be very difficult to follow.

Meera Syal as Professor Sprout
Lolly Adefope as Rita Skeeter
Katy Wix as Dolores Umbridge
Simon Pegg as Gilderoy Lockhart (I would have liked Hugh Grant,
but it would basically reprise his role in Paddington 2)
Helen Mirren as McGonnagle
Adrian Edmonson as Professor Binns

I am also (obviously) heavily in favour of a British cast and would love Hermione to be black a la cursed child. Why wouldn't the 'Brightest witch of her age' be a black girl? AND it will irritate racists

Benedict Cumberbatch for Lockhart? Hard to beat Branagh though, yet again.

The movies were really let down by the main 3 child actors, the rest of the cast was great.

Branagh could be a good Dumbledore. In general I agree you don't want people from the movies in the TV series but for really good actors they simply convince you that they are whoever they're portraying. I don't think 'Dr Who' whenever I see Tenant in anything because he always totally convinces me in any role. Plus Branagh had a lot of makeup for Lockhart and would do also for Dumbledore.

Although I do also like the idea of Patrick Stewart.

I also strongly agree there are very hard acts to follow in the adult cast. Alan and Robbie especially. Dame Maggie Smith spring to mind.

Meera Syal as Professor Sprout or Trelawny. She's got great comic timing.

Yes Meera Syal would be great for Sprout. I still like Sally Hawkins for Trelawny. She does mad as a box of frogs so very well but also can do pathos and I really feel for Trelawny at times. She's not just a comic figure (IMO).

Maybe it's me dimorphism. I'm just not a fan of David Tennant.

Cumberbatch would be great as Lockheart. Totally can see him hamming it up.

Casting Hermione with a non-white actor and having her called ‘mudblood’ may prove contentious.

I think casting will need to be very careful, as will contracts. If one of the leads drops out before the 10 years is up (due to stress or harassment) it would be a major issue. I hope they ensure a massive wraparound of pastoral care, that’s for sure.

Was Frances Barber in any of the films? Because she is Rita Skeeter to me.

Love the idea of Meera Syal as Professor Sprout.

Oooh this is so exciting and also I’m finding that bringing it up is a great way to suss out who among my wider friends and family is also GC.

Interesting cast suggestions. Yes to Katy Wix Umbridge! I’d like to see a black Hermione.

John Bogeya (spelling 😬) for Snape, Adam Driver for Sirius.

Yes to Tennant for Voldemort.
Morgan Freeman for Dumbledore! Even if he is a bit old.

The one who played Edith in Downton Abbey for Umbridge.

Bellatrix is meant to have the jaunty beauty of the black family, heavy lidded eyes and shining black hair and a sense of the gravity of her high position in the wizarding world due to her genealogy.

So my nomination is Natalie Dormer(Only problem is timeline wise she might be a bit old, but she played a teenager in Game of Thrones so I'm willing to bet she could pull it off.

I know he's not British but Adam Driver is Snape. Age wise and demeanor much closer to book Snape than Alan Rickman (though Hollywood beautied up!)

Id like the timeline to be right this time so Sophie Turner as a twenties Lily would work well with the timeline.

I just want a true redhead firstly Ginny, as per the book.
My vote goes to Cillian Murphy as Voldemort.
Bit of a wildcard, but could Tom Felting handle, shy, nervous but ultimately evil Quirrel?

Haunty not jaunty.
Nah!

I know he's not British but Adam Driver is Snape. Age wise and demeanor much closer to book Snape than Alan Rickman (though Hollywood beautied up!)

Glad you agree with me about Adam Driver. Didn't realise he wasn't British but it doesn't make a difference.

Cillian Murphy as Voldemort. Yes.

My first thought was Adam Driver for Snape too. Pretty sure we're not supposed to fancy Snape though.

I fancied Alan Rickman Snape so 🥴

Snape was supposed to have a break like nose. Tick.
Greasy black hair.
Tick.
Eyes like dark tunnels.
Tick.

So for me, Driver ticks all the boxes. His main point of unattractiveness was his unkempt appearance, outsize secondhand clothes and his lack of confidence. It's made clear in the books that James and Severus are very similar, but because James comes from a family where he is loved, he is confident and able to make good choices, whereas because Severus comes from a damaged home and domestic abuse he is set up to make bad ones.

I know she was in the movies but since it was pretty much blink-and-you-miss-her, how about Michelle Fairley for McGonagall?

Here you go - basically McAvoys audition tape for Snape.

Imagine the people queuing up to be in it... trans rights will be out of the window.

Excellent choice! I have revised my dream-list (Sorry Ms Mirren)

Well if Mackenzie Crook could be Filch then I reckon Toby Jones could do a decent Hagrid.

Amanda Abbington as Tonks?

Matt Smith as Lockhart?

(Getting into this now)