Casting for the HBO Harry Potter series has been picking up pace in recent months.
Fans now know who will be bringing several familiar Wizarding World characters to life.
Among the latest additions is Kit Harington playing the vain Gilderoy Lockhart in season two.
From Weasleys to ghosts, Sorting Hat to portraits, let’s take a look at some of the latest names.
David Threlfall as the Sorting Hat
BAFTA winner Threlfall, 73, is perhaps best known for his iconic role as Frank Gallagher on the original UK Shameless.
He played the role from 2004 to 2013, spanning 139 episodes.
Threlfall has also played real-life figures including then-Prince Charles and comedian Tommy Cooper.
In the Harry Potter HBO series, Threlfall is voicing the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.
He has previously worked across stage and screen alongside several familiar faces from the Harry Potter films.
This includes Gary Oldman, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman and Richard Griffiths.
Leo Bill as Nearly Headless Nick
Bill, 46, the son of actors Stephen Bill and Sheila Kelley, succeeds John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick.
Before joining the HBO Harry Potter series, Bill had already built a 25-year acting career across stage and screen.
It’s not his first time in a JK Rowling adaptation, having appeared in Strike season one.
Also among his credits is Tim Burton’s 2010 Alice in Wonderland film, in which he played Hamish.
The film also featured several familiar faces from the Wizarding World, including Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter.
Timothy Spall, Frances de la Tour as well as audiobook narrator Stephen Fry also appeared.
In 2017, Bill also had a main role in Taboo, starring Tom Hardy.
Andrew Brooke as The Bloody Baron
Brooke joins Bill as one of the Hogwarts ghosts, playing Slytherin’s Bloody Baron.
He currently appears in Paramount+ spy thriller The Agency, which stars Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright.
Brooke appeared in Strike, playing Niall Brockbank in two episodes.
His other TV credits include PhoneShop, Doctor Who, Andor and After Life.
Brooke’s films feature roles in Sherlock Holmes, The Mummy (2017) and Cold Storage.
He has worked with Wizarding World alums such as Jude Law, David Tennant and Rhys Ifans.
Daniel Fearn as The Fat Friar
Fearn rounds out the announced Hogwarts ghosts as Hufflepuff’s Fat Friar.
Viewers may recognise Fearn from episodes of Slow Horses, Ted Lasso and Amandaland.
On Slow Horses, he shares the screen with Gary Oldman, who plays leading character Jackson Lamb.
Fearn also portrays “Dave” in BBC’s Things You Should Have Done and Lewis in Man Vs Bee.
Laura Smyth as The Fat Lady
Comedian and writer Smyth, 41, joins the Harry Potter HBO series as the Fat Lady.
As fans will recall, this is the portrait who guards the entrance to Gryffindor Common Room.
Smyth succeeds two actresses in the role: Dawn French and the late Elizabeth Spriggs.
Until 2021, Smyth worked as an English teacher before pursuing comedy full-time.
She has since appeared in Baby Reindeer, as well as panel shows Would I Lie To You and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Interestingly, Smyth previously appeared on Would I Lie To You? alongside Lenny Rush, who we’ll get to later…
Hannah Chinn as Lily Potter
Chinn takes on the role of Harry’s late mother Lily – in perhaps one of the most highly anticipated castings.
Before being confirmed, Chinn had already been a popular fancast for the part.
Her credits to date include TV roles in The Lady, Malpractice, Ellis and most recently, Possession.
The role of Lily marks a significant step up for Chinn after a string of smaller parts.
Jasper Talbot as James Potter
Joining Chinn is actor Jasper Talbot as Harry’s late father, James.
Up to this point, Talbot has primarily worked on stage in productions including Twelfth Night, Atonement and The Line of Beauty.
He made a previous foray into television with one episode of Broadchurch.
Harry Gilby as Charlie Weasley
Gilby, 25, brings Ron’s elder brother Charlie to life, following the character’s almost complete absence from the film series.
Before landing the role of Charlie, Gilby had already appeared in major projects.
He played Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien in 2019’s Tolkien.
The young actor also played Æthelstan in TV series The Last Kingdom.
Besides Potter, Gilby appears in upcoming historical drama series The Cadburys.
He plays George Cadbury – son of the confectionery company’s founder John Cadbury.
Gilby has also worked with Wizarding World alumni Pam Ferris and Toby Regbo.
Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey
Child actor Jasper Ambrose takes on the role of Harry’s fellow Gryffindor Colin Creevey, beginning in season two.
Hugh Mitchell played the role in the Chamber of Secrets film, but did not return in subsequent films.
Therefore, Ambrose has plenty of scope to make Colin his own.
His previous projects include Man vs Baby, The Sheep Detectives and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Ambrose’s previous Wizarding World co-stars include Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent.
Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle
Another season two newcomer, Molly Hewitt-Richards joins as Moaning Myrtle – another ghost haunting Hogwarts.
She succeeds Scottish actress Shirley Henderson, who played Myrtle in the film series.
As it stands, Myrtle appears to be Hewitt-Richards’ highest-profile role to date.
She has also appeared in Channel 4 sitcom F**k Ups, as well as one episode roles in Casualty and Code of Silence.
Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley
Rafe Spall, the new Arthur Weasley, has perhaps the most unusual prior Harry Potter connection.
Spall, 43, is the son of Timothy Spall, who portrayed Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail in the film series.
There’s an amusing irony of the younger Spall playing the father of the boy who owned the rat portrayed by his own father.
Rafe appeared in all three films of the Cornetto trilogy as well as others including Kidulthood, Life Of Pi and I Give It A Year.
On television, he starred opposite Esther Smith in the Apple TV+ comedy Trying.
Speaking to Deadline, Rafe said of his Potter casting: “I’m just really enjoying it.
“It’s funny that my dad played Ron’s rat and now I’m playing Arthur Weasley.
“The other day I was on set and Ron’s rat was there. I took a photograph next to it. If I had social media, I would post it.”
He has worked with many Wizarding World alumni, including the original Harry Potter himself — Daniel Radcliffe.
Other past co-stars include Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, David Thewlis and Rhys Ifans.
Rafe is also reuniting with both Nick Frost (playing Hagrid) and Warwick Davis, who is reprising his role as Professor Flitwick.
Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley
Young actress Bonnie Hill is a new addition for season two, replacing Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley.
Funnily enough, Hill previously played a character named Ginny in CBBC’s Girl Troop vs Aliens.
Other projects in her growing career include The Six Triple Eight, Mitten & Pants and Film Club.
Her predecessor Gracie Cochrane also shared a message after Hill’s Potter casting was revealed.
Cochrane posted on her Instagram story: “Handing over the wand. Good luck.”
Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle
International Emmy-winner Billy Barratt plays the younger incarnation of Lord Voldemort – Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Barratt starred as Caspar Morrow on US sci-fi TV series Invasion on Apple TV.
He won his International Emmy in 2019, aged 13, for television film Responsible Child.
In 2026, he played Dylan Sedgwick in ITV crime drama Gone, created by George Kay.
Barratt stars in Life Is Strange, an upcoming science fiction mystery drama for Prime Video.
His other TV credits include guest roles in Mr Selfridge, The White Princess and The Alienist.
On the big screen, Barratt has appeared in Bring Her Back, Crater, The Other Me and Kraven the Hunter.
He has worked with Wizarding World alums including Dame Julie Walters, Adrian Rawlins and Michelle Fairley.
Lenny Rush as Dobby
Also joining the Harry Potter HBO series is Lenny Rush, who plays Dobby the house elf.
A rising young actor, 17-year-old Rush already has impressive credits to his name.
He stars opposite Daisy May Cooper in comedy-thriller Am I Being Unreasonable and in 2026, played the lead role in TV series The Reluctant Vampire.
His other TV appearances include Doctor Who, Slow Horses and CBBC hit series The Dumping Ground.
Rush posted on Instagram after being revealed as the new Dobby: “Harry Potter! So long Dobby has wanted to meet you, sir… Such an honour it is!”
“I am over the moon to be joining the magical world of HBO’s Harry Potter series, as Dobby.
“Even littler me (a massive Harry Potter fan, as you can tell) wouldn’t believe it! Very excited to join this amazing franchise.”
He has worked with Wizarding World alums including Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter and David Thewlis.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will premiere exclusively on HBO Max in the UK & Ireland on Christmas Day.
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