Search is underway for a new trio to play the iconic roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger on screen.
An open casting call was officially launched yesterday for children from the UK and Ireland to audition for the leads in the upcoming HBO original series. The note possibly revealed the targeted start of production date for the series as it stipulates that the young actors must be between the ages of 9 and 11 as of April 2025.
That is seven months from now, which is how long it took to find Daniel Radcliffe in 2000 for the title role in the Harry Potter movie franchise when he was 11. His co-stars, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, were 10 and 12, respectively.
“We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting,” the casting call notes at the bottom in language that has become an industry standard. “For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”
This is an approach the fantasy franchise took in the Harry Potter And The Cursed Child stage production, which cast Noma Dumezweni as Hermione.
The Open Call’s initial round is for self-taped auditions. Candidates are asked to submit two videos, speaking in their native accent. In the first, which is under 30 seconds, they should perform a short story or poem — but “nothing from Harry Potter.” In the second, up to a minute in length, they are asked to talk about themselves as well as “a family member, friend or pet that you are particularly close to.”
The casting call follows the recent hire of Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod as writer and director on the Harry Potter series, respectively, after an extensive showrunner search.
The series, which originated on Max before moving to HBO, is described as a “faithful” adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books and will feature a new cast.
Harry Potter is produced by Warner Bros Television and Rowling’s Brontë Film and TV. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV will exec produce alongside Gardiner and Mylod as well as David Heyman of Heyday Films, who produced the movies.
