HBO and Warner Bros are behind the new tv series “Harry Potter” that will be aired on HBO in 2026. The new series will dive deeper into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, Howgarts, Dumbledore, Voldemort and all the other fantastic wizzards and mugles of JK Rowling’s book.
That means that the new tv project needs new characters for all the iconic roles of Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith ext…and the rumours about the casting has made Potter fans really upset!
Although there is no official announcement about who is going to play who, so far it was reported that the actor Paapa Essiedu, Gangs of London and The Capture, is in final talks to play Severus Snape.
Y'all had ONE job. https://t.co/0Bh3GRy539 pic.twitter.com/UCbYrYnwO0
— Lily* (@300mirrors) March 7, 2025
Paapa Essiedu is not Severus Snape. @jk_rowling knows it. @HBO knows it. Yet, they ignore it. Very disappointing. Alan Rickman was the perfect Snape, and Adam Driver would have been perfect for the role. What a complete 180. #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/07ugqpPj6Z
— Seat B1 (@SeatB1_) March 7, 2025
HBO casting Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series.#SeriesWithDME pic.twitter.com/1gDQLQkUG1
— DME 🇳🇦 (@dme_363) March 8, 2025
Another casting that disappointed Potter fans is the one of John Lithgow for the role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Lithgow is also in final talks about the role.

As for professor Minerva McGonagall, who was played by the late Dame Maggie Smith, rumours say that it will be played either by Janet McTeer or Sharon Horgan.

Rubeus Hagrid ,the key-gatekeeper of Howgarts, it is said that will be played by Brett Goldstein.

As for the new Voldemort it’s been claimed that Oscar winner Cillian Murphy is being eyed for the role.
