It’s almost time for fans to return to Hogwarts, as the release date for HBO’s Harry Potter series creeps closer.
The show, which will reimagine J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World for a new generation, is set to premiere this Christmas with a fresh take on the author’s first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Dominic McLaughlin will play the titular wizard, taking over from Daniel Radcliffe. Originally from Lanarkshire, the young actor beat out more than 32,000 other children to land the role, with his previous credits including Sky film Grow, which he starred in alongside Nick Frost, the new Rubeus Hagrid.
The open casting call found the perfect Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, respectively. As for the professors and parents in Harry Potter, notable cast members include John Lithgow as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, with Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as Harry’s Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley.
With so many new names and faces set to appear in the HBO series, here is the full cast for the show side by side with their film equivalent.
5. Minerva McGonagall — Janet McTeer (TV) & Maggie Smith (films)
One of the most iconic characters of the series, Professor Minerva McGonagall will be played by two-time Oscar nominee Janet McTeer. The English actress will take over the role from the late Maggie Smith. | Lara Cornell/HBO/Getty Images
6. Severus Snape — Paapa Essiedu (TV) & Alan Rickman (films)
One of the most talked about castings of the show so far, Paapa Essiedu will play Hogwarts potions professor Severus Snape. The head of Slytherin – and with a grudge against Gryffindors – Snape was originally played by the late Alan Rickman, whose drawl is fondly remembered by fans of the series. | Lara Cornell/HBO/Getty Images
7. Rubeus Hagrid — Nick Frost (TV) & Robbie Coltrane (films)
Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant Hogwarts gamekeeper, will be played by Nick Frost in the new Harry Potter series. Best known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead, Spaced and more, Frost is stepping into the shoes of another late cast member, Robbie Coltrane. | Aidan Monaghan/HBO/Getty Images
8. Draco Malfoy — Lox Pratt (TV) & Tom Felton (films)
Following his role as a villain in the BBC’s recent Lord of the Flies adaptation, Lox Pratt is set to continue that theme by playing Harry’s Slytherin rival Draco Malfoy. Draco was previously played by Tom Felton in the films, with the English actor even reprising the role in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. | Lara Cornell/HBO/Getty Images