Harry Potter HBO McGonagall casting update is not at all what we imagined

It’s everyone’s favourite time of the week because we have a new casting update for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. I’m sure you guys are gonna be levelheaded and chill about this one too, right?

As revealed by Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva, several A-listers are currently being eyed for roles in the show.

Currently, we know that Mark Rylance and Mark Strong are in the running to play Dumbledore, Brett Goldstein is supposedly being considered for the role of Hagrid, and Paapa Essidedu may be in talks to play Snape.

However, the two actors who are apparently in talks to play Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall are the most interesting to me - mostly because I can’t decide which one would be better.

Take a look at the show's teaser trailer.

“The rumour mill also has been hyping of late Emmy-nominated Bad Sisters co-creator/star Sharon Horgan as being eyed for Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, portrayed by the late Maggie Smith in the movies,” Andreeva revealed.

Andreeva also disclosed that “there has been conflicting information” on another actor potentially playing the character: Rachel Weisz.

I’m not too sure how well-known Sharon Horgan is outside of the United Kingdom, but I think she’d be great for the role.

She was absolutely incredible in the 2015 series Catastrophe, but Americans will probably know her for her roles in the 2018 comedy Game Night and the 2022 film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Meanwhile, Rachel Weisz needs no introduction. She’s likely best known for her Academy Award-winning role in the 2005 film The Constant Gardener and her Academy Award-nominated role in 2018’s The Favourite.

If you’re anything like me though, you probably know Weisz from her role in the best film ever made: The Mummy.

Nothing has been confirmed yet, of course, but I’d be happy with either of these picks.

Personally, I can’t help but feel that Weisz is probably too busy making some other Academy Award-winning film to actually star in it, but then again… she was in Black Widow so anything is possible.