So, they’re really going through with this, eh? Pedro Pascal, must be ecstatic.
Brace yourselves, Potterheads and doomscrollers alike: HBO’s ultra-hyped, totally necessary “Harry Potter” reboot has finally started production in the UK.
HBO has unveiled the first official image from its upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ reboot, giving fans a glimpse of Dominic McLaughlin as the boy who lived. According to the network, more than 30,000 hopefuls auditioned for the role—so kudos to the chosen ones for surviving the casting Hunger Games.
McLaughlin steps into the role that made Daniel Radcliffe a household name, donning the familiar wizarding robes as production kicks off in the U.K. Alongside him, the core trio will be rounded out by Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger—three complete newcomers tapped to lead this new, and allegedly “faithful,” adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling book series.
The rest of the cast includes, John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Behind the camera, Succession’s Francesca Gardiner serves as writer and executive producer. Mark Mylod, also of “Succession” fame, will direct multiple episodes and executive produce.
The series is executive produced by Gardiner, Mylod, and — surprise! — J.K. Rowling, who remains deeply attached to the franchise she birthed, despite her Twitter feed doing its best to alienate half of it. When asked if Rowling’s trans commentary might taint the show, HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys essentially shrugged it off.
The upcoming series, which plans to adapt one book per season over seven seasons, is being touted as one of the most expensive shows ever made, with a jaw-dropping $2 billion budget. That’s around $300M per season, a number that puts it in the same league as “The Rings of Power” and “House of the Dragon.”
The show is expected to span a full decade, with each season adapting one book from the original seven-novel saga. Whether this becomes a worthy successor to the beloved film series—or simply a nostalgia-fueled cash grab—remains to be seen. Either way, it’s happening.
