Harry Potter HBO casting update leaves fans more optimistic than ever

Despite the fact that filming is set to commence imminently, HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot is still refusing to confirm the series’ cast.

John Lithgow previously accidentally revealed that he’d accepted the role of Dumbledore, but clearly he let that fact slip much earlier than he was supposed to.

It’s also believed that Paapa Essiedu has signed on as Snape as previously rumoured but again, both HBO and Warner Bros. have not confirmed either casting when pressed for comment.

I’m assuming we’ll hear something pretty soon as it does seem that the cast is close to being finalised.

I wonder how the series’ new young trio is feeling, waiting to be unveiled to the world.

No doubt this will be a life-changing experience for them.

While we don’t have a casting announcement per se, I can offer something almost as riveting.

HBO’s head of IP Sarah Aubrey recently spoke of the upcoming Harry Potter reboot, touching on the topic of casting.

You can view the series’ teaser trailer below.

“I think it’s a dream job for a lot of actors in the U.K,” Sarah told The Hollywood Reporter.

“But the roles that we’re casting right now are for people who are going to be on the show for a decade, so that’s also a very particular gig. But the commitment is to make the books, and that’s what it could be. But there are interesting people raising their hands to be the featured adult actors that come on in later seasons, like the Sirius Blacks of the world.”

She continued, “So, it’s been very, very fun, but we don’t want to repeat people that were in the movies. And it’s always a little nerve-wracking because people so associate those roles with certain actors, but I also think because it’s going to be eight hours of TV, we’re going to immerse them in a different actor’s performance.”

Well, well, well. Now I am intrigued.

Actors are already clamouring to play characters like Sirius Black?! He doesn’t even appear until book three, which’ll translate to the show’s third season.

“No new information but it's just really great to see people at HBO talking about it. I hope more of these little tidbits keep coming to help me survive through to summer when they begin filming,” replied Reddit user Karshall321 in response to the news.

“The more interesting tidbit I’m here is the talk about the quality standards the IP shows are held to so they don’t dilute the brand. Terrific sign IMO,” added carlos_the_dwarf.

I was dubious when the TV show was announced, I’ll admit, but it does indeed sound like HBO and Warner Bros. are aware of the expectations surrounding the series.

It’s all looking rather positive, for now.