HBO's Harry Potter Series Nears Final Cast Decisions for Snape, McGonagall

HBO is in negotiations with actors Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu for key roles in its upcoming Harry Potter series, with McTeer potentially taking on the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall and Essiedu in talks to portray Professor Severus Snape. This follows the prior announcement of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, and if confirmed, the trio will bring a new generation to Hogwarts with a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved novels. The series is set to explore each book in depth over a decade-long runtime, with a focus on accurately portraying the characters' ages, as Essiedu's Snape will align more closely with his book age. HBO has yet to finalize casting details, emphasizing that they will only confirm roles as agreements are reached. The production aims for a premiere in late 2026 or early 2027, with casting for key roles like Harry, Hermione, and Ron still underway.