Three roles filled for the Philosopher's Stone season
HBO has added three performers to its Harry Potter series. Jasper Talbot will portray James Potter and Hannah Chinn will portray Lily Potter, the parents of the boy wizard at the center of the story. Harry Gilby joins the production as Charlie Weasley, the second-oldest of Molly and Arthur Weasley's sons, following Bill in the birth order and preceding Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
The Deadline report notes that Harry's mother and father had limited screen time in the earlier films drawn from J.K. Rowling's books, and it is not yet known how substantial their parts will be in the HBO adaptation. The first novel establishes their fate: the dark wizard Voldemort killed both of them, and Lily died shielding the infant Harry through a protective enchantment of love.[S1]
What the first season will cover
The coming season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, follows Dominic McLaughlin's Harry, whom his Aunt Petunia, played by Bel Powley, insists is entirely ordinary. An unexpected letter admitting him to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry then reveals a concealed world of magic, companionship and adventure, while darker secrets wait inside the school's walls and Harry must summon the nerve to face the most fearsome wizard of all.[S1]
The wider ensemble and production team
McLaughlin leads a cast that includes Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Others announced include Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley, and Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley.[S1]
The roster continues with Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley. Also cast are Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch, Bríd Brennan as Poppy Pomfrey, Leigh Gill as Griphook and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.[S1]
Francesca Gardiner writes the series and serves as an executive producer. Mark Mylod executive produces and directs several episodes for HBO, working with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The executive producers also include Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, David Heyman of Heyday Films, Laura Neal and Jon Brown. Talbot is represented by United Agents, Chinn by 42, and Gilby by Independent Talent Group and Untitled Entertainment.[S1]
