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Harry Potter fans have 'cast' actors for new HBO series with some huge stars

Harry Potter fans have 'cast' actors for new HBO series with some huge stars

The Harry Potter TV series will be released over the course of a decade

When it comes time to reboot Harry Potter, the most high pressure position of all might just be whoever decides on casting.

The original set of eight films is renowned for having maybe the best casting for a major series ever.

As well as inspired casting choices such as Alan Rickman as Snape and Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, they somehow found three kids to play the main trio who were not only brilliant actors – but child stars who didn’t turn out to be nutters before the series ended.

When is casting beginning for the HBO Harry Potter series?

With the recent announcement that an upcoming HBO series would be re-adapting the books, attention has already turned to who will play who.

With the studio stating casting would only begin once a showrunner was in place, the recent announcement that Francesca Gardiner would be taking the helm means casting can only be around the corner for the series.

Gardiner had previously worked with HBO on Succession. (Amy Sussman via Getty Images)
Gardiner had previously worked with HBO on Succession. (Amy Sussman via Getty Images)

Despite this though, fans on the subreddit r/HarryPotteronHBO are wasting no time weighing in on who should be playing who.

Some are absolutely incredible, others are downright terrible, but all of them will get you excited to go back to the wizarding world of Hogwarts.

Daniel Radcliffe as Voldemort

A lot of fans want Radcliffe to come back, with the most uninspired suggestions tending to centre around him playing Sirius Black.

From Harry Potter to Weird Al to Voldemort. The obvious career progression. (Roku Channel)
From Harry Potter to Weird Al to Voldemort. The obvious career progression. (Roku Channel)

Voldemort meanwhile is a role that could potentially be interesting with Radcliffe having developed genuine acting chops in the years since Deathly Hallows: Part Two.

One fan commented: “Unhinged, I like it”, while another said: “He'd probably play it very well, it would.be distracting for viewers though. The thing that Daniel Ratcliffe can't ever hide is those incredibly kind eyes. He just looks gentle and kind.”

Michelle Fairley as Professor McGonagall

If she was up for the role I would greenlight this tomorrow.

Michelle Fairley starred as Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones.
Sky.

The Irish actor has already tackled one massive franchise in Game of Thrones, and would be perfect casting for another if they are looking for the Ravenclaw professor.

One fan commented: “This is one of the better fan submissions I’ve seen. It’s low key perfect.”

Tom Hiddleston as Severus Snape

No. Immediately no. Terrible. Go back home and take a good long hard look in the mirror whoever suggested this.

The man is far too pretty to play Snape. (Marvel Studios)
The man is far too pretty to play Snape. (Marvel Studios)

Again. No.

Gayle Rankin as Bellatrix Lestrange

Now we’re talking. The issue with fan casting is so often they expect a cast to be made up of all the world’s biggest stars, instead of looking for great character actors who could become huge names through the series.

Rankin plays Alys Rivers in House of the Dragon. (HBO)
Rankin plays Alys Rivers in House of the Dragon. (HBO)

Having killed it on Glow and more recently House of the Dragon, it would be a undeniable step-up, but a welcome one for Rankin.

Tom Hardy as Sirius Black

My initial instinct was obviously yes, because, you know, it’s Tom Hardy.

But the comments on this one dissuaded me, with the recognition Prisoner of Azkaban is probably a good few years off.

Tom Hardy was thrown in there (20th Century Fox)
Tom Hardy was thrown in there (20th Century Fox)

One fan commented; “I love Tom Hardy and would love to see him involved... but he's too old for Sirius. Sirius is like 31 in POA. Tom Hardy is 46.

“Given that were probably 5 years out from a POA season, that would put Tom Hardy at 20 years too old. A small age gap is fine, but thats a big age gap.”

Fine. Dobby it is then.

Featured Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images / Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

Topics: Harry Potter, TV, HBO, Reddit