HBO's Harry Potter Series Begins Casting for 2026

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series is set to begin filming in summer 2025 and aims for a 'decade-long' faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's novels. The show will consist of eight one-hour episodes for the first book, allowing for deeper exploration of characters and storylines, including the canonical ages of characters like Severus Snape, who will be portrayed as 31 years old. Casting rumors suggest that Mark Rylance is a frontrunner for Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu is being considered for Snape, despite some debate over the latter's suitability. Over 32,000 young actors have auditioned for the lead roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with the casting team reviewing hundreds of tapes daily. The series will also include characters and elements omitted from the films, such as Peeves the Poltergeist. HBO aims to maintain the essence of the original films while providing a fresh take on the beloved story.