Harry Potter New Adaptation Adds Returning Film Star To Cast

The magical world of Harry Potter is far from over with both the upcoming television show and Audible series on the way.

With the HBO television adaptation in the middle of filming ahead of a 2027 release, it seems as though things are also ramping up with the accompanying Audible series.

The seven-part audiobook adaptation is set to feature 200 actors to take on the various characters we first met during J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series and comes courtesy of a collaboration between Audible and Rowling’s Pottermore Publishing.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is scheduled for a 4 November release and so with the first entry just around the corner, it seems as though our final cast members have been revealed in an article by Variety.

Well, before the article was taken down.

Posted just yesterday and since deleted despite the link still existing, British actor Bill Nighy is the next major actor to join the cast, taking on the role of Horace Slughorn, a previous Hogwarts Potions Master.

Warner Bros

However, although Nighy is best known for his roles in Love Actually, and the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, Harry Potter fans will also recognise him as the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

So it seems as though Nighy is returning to the magical series but this time in a wholly different role.

It is currently unclear as to why Variety deleted its article just hours after posting but we can only assume that it was published too early and this is not information we were supposed to have yet.

Especially as the article also confirmed the roles of our last batch of characters and luckily, one Reddit user was quick to copy and paste all important information.

"Other actors recently announced for Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions include: David Holmes as Stan Shunpike (Holmes was the main stunt double in the films); Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Professor Trelawney; Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Sirius Black; Anna Maxwell Martin as Rita Skeeter; Mackenzie Crook as Kreacher; Stephen Mangan as Nearly Headless Nick; Tracy-Ann Oberman as Madam Hooch; and Millie Gubby as Luna Lovegood.”

Nighy and the rest of the new announcements join an already star-studded cast including the likes of Keira Knightley, Kit Harington, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg, and much more.

However, due to the allegations against author J.K. Rowling for her transphobic views across social media, stars such as Knightley have received criticism for her lack of concern.

There is no doubt that Nighy will be the next actor under fire for his links to the series and its author but as always, it seems as though both the Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions and HBO’s Harry Potter are set for a fruitful future.

Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions begins on 4 November 2025.