HBO Announces Open Casting for Harry Potter Series

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series has seen an immense response with 32,000 young actors auditioning for the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner revealed that the casting process, led by Lucy Bevan, focused on inclusivity and aimed to find children aged 9 to 11 from the UK and Ireland. Candidates were required to submit two videos: one showcasing their performance and another sharing personal stories. The process has progressed to chemistry reads, with casting announcements expected soon, while the show is set to begin filming in summer 2025. Each book of the series will be adapted into a full season, with the premiere scheduled for 2026, as HBO aims to explore deeper character arcs and expand on existing narratives. J.K. Rowling, despite past controversies, will serve as an executive producer for the project.