Harry Potter star Katherine Parkinson has shared a new insight into filming the upcoming HBO series.
Parkinson, 48, plays Molly Weasley in the TV adaptation, which launches on Christmas Day.
Speaking Speaking to journalist Jonatan Blomberg, Parkinson discussed working on the series.
She said: “It’s a very different set to anything I’ve been on. It feels massive.
“I’ve just been in Diagon Alley and it’s magical.”
Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO
Katherine Parkinson also discussed actor Rafe Spall being cast as Arthur Weasley for Harry Potter season two.
She added: “I’ve been really enjoying it, especially now that Rafe Spall has been cast as my husband, because he’s great.”
Other Weasley actors include Tristan and Gabriel Harland as twins Fred and George, as well as Ruari Spooner as Percy.
Harry Gilby is set as Charlie, while Bonnie Hill replaces Gracie Cochrane as Ginny.
Leading the cast are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Alongside their casting announcement, showrunner Francesca Gardiner (showrunner, executive producer) and director/EP Mark Mylod said: “After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
“The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen.
“We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.”
Emmy and Olivier Award-winning John Lithgow portrays Hogwarts’ headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore.
HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series introduces new actors to iconic and beloved roles – including the Weasleys.
Now just weeks away from the Christmas Day premiere, fans will soon see these new faces in action.
The Weasley family plays a pivotal role in the story, appearing from the very early stages.
Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley | Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBORuari Spooner, Katherine Parkinson, Alastair Stout, Tristan Harland and Gabriel Harland | Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO
Harry Potter is introduced to the large, close-knit family through his best friend Ron.
He soon becomes an extended family member himself, a stark contrast to his experience with the Dursleys.
Almost all the new Weasleys have been officially cast for the HBO series.
The last one remaining is eldest sibling Bill, who works for Gringotts Bank as a curse breaker.
Here’s a look at the actors bringing the Weasley family to life in HBO’s new series.
Ron Weasley
Harry’s best friend is portrayed this time by Alastair Stout.
Stout was announced for the role in May 2025, along with the rest of the trio.
He officially became the first of the Weasleys revealed for the next iteration.
Fans have already had a glimpse of his portrayal through trailers released so far.
Molly Weasley
The next Weasley to be cast was matriarch Molly, played by Katherine Parkinson.
Molly is actually the first Weasley Harry speaks to, when he asks for help finding Platform 9¾.
Parkinson is a very familiar face to TV audiences.
You might recognise her from The I.T. Crowd, Here We Go and Rivals.
Speaking to journalist Jonatan Blomberg, Parkinson discussed working on the series.
She said: “It’s a very different set to anything I’ve been on. It feels massive.
“I’ve just been in Diagon Alley and it’s magical.”
Parkinson added: “I’ve been really enjoying it, especially now that Rafe Spall has been cast as my husband, because he’s great.”
Fred and George Weasley
This time around, the mischievous twins are played by Tristan and Gabriel Harland.
They were announced in August 2025, along with other Weasley siblings.
In the books, the twins actually help introduce Harry to their younger brother Ron.
They assist Harry with his trunk, before leaving him with Ron to join their friend, Lee Jordan.
Ginny Weasley
Courtesy of Emily Goldie
Ginny is already an interesting case in the HBO series.
The character is played by two actresses across the first two seasons.
First introduced as Ron’s little sister, she becomes a pivotal character much later in the series.
Gracie Cochrane was announced in August 2025 and she portrays Ginny in season one.
However, Cochrane and her family later announced that she would be stepping away from the role due to unforeseen circumstances.
Bonnie Hill was later revealed as the new Ginny Weasley.
Interestingly, she shares a first name with the actress who played Ginny in the films — Bonnie Wright.
Unlike the films, the show has the advantage of being able to tell the entire story across multiple seasons.
This is especially useful for Ginny, given – spoiler alert – she eventually marries Harry.
Percy Weasley
Percy’s casting was announced in the same drop as the twins and Ginny.
He is played by actor Ruari Spooner — succeeding Chris Rankin from the films.
Throughout the series, Percy’s desire for power and authority is apparent.
He goes from being a prefect, to Head Boy, to working for the Ministry of Magic.
Percy was slightly sidelined in the later films, with much of his arc from the books being cut.
The films didn’t fully explore Percy as an antagonist to Harry — and his own family — which the series may have scope to do.
Charlie Weasley
Second-eldest sibling Charlie appears in the series – after being almost entirely absent from the films.
Courtesy of Ruth Crafer
Harry Gilby brings the second eldest of the Weasleys to life for the HBO series.
Although HBO had already begun announcing cast members for season two, it subsequently revealed some remaining season one roles, including Charlie.
In fact, HBO previously teased Charlie’s casting back in August 2025.
They wrote: “Charlie’s in Romania at the moment but will be joining us soon enough…”.
Arthur Weasley
Courtesy of HBO
Rafe Spall plays the family’s Muggle-loving patriarch, Arthur.
Spall — the son of fellow Harry Potter actor Timothy Spall (Wormtail) — rounds out the confirmed Weasleys for now.
Unlike the other characters, however, Arthur won’t be appearing until season two.
Like Molly, he also takes on a caring, parental role towards Harry.
Speaking to Deadline, Spall said of his 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.”
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will premiere exclusively on HBO Max in the UK & Ireland on Christmas Day.
The announcement attracted controversy due to Essiedu’s appearance differing from previous portrayals of Snape.
Essiedu’s casting contrasts past portrayals of Snape, including Alan Rickman’s performance in the film series and the character’s description in the books
In one Reddit thread, a user wrote: “As the new Harry Potter trailer dropped on HBO Max, I was disappointed to see they doubled down on casting a Black actor as Snape.
“This fundamentally changes the story.”
They added: “Nobody asked for a Black Snape.
“That change does not contribute in any way to world building, just causes discourse [the] Harry Potter fandom did not need.”
HBO has renewed Sharon Horgan-created romantic comedy Youth for a second season.
Horgan, 56, also stars in the series as the protagonist, divorced literary agent Alex.
Season 1’s logline read: “Youth follows a 50-year-old divorcee’s search for sex and love whilst juggling caring for her ailing parents and parenting her should-be grown up son.”
Courtesy of Natalie Seery/HBOCourtesy of Natalie Seery/HBO
The eight-episode first season premiered on HBO on September 20, 2026.
Further main cast members include Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte, Aran Murphy and Robbie Gee.
Horgan said: “I’m so happy to get another opportunity to live out my emotional and biological crises on HBO.
“I can’t think of a better platform to air my UTI problems on.
“The response to Youth has been beyond what I could have hoped for.
“I’m so grateful for the response and the chance to work with this incredible cast and creative team once more.”
Amy Gravitt, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, also weighed in.
She said: “In a way that only she can, Sharon has created a show that makes us howl with laughter and with tears – often in the same moment.
“Each performance in YOUTH is more delightful than the next.
“Along with our partners at Merman, we are so thrilled to have this brilliant ensemble back for another season.”
Courtesy of Colin Hutton/HBOCourtesy of Natalie Seery/HBO
Actor-writer Horgan’s prior credits include Pulling, Catastrophe and Bad Sisters.
She also has created or co-created further series, but did not act in them – Divorce, Motherland and Shining Vale, respectively.
Speaking to Gold Derby about Youth and her character, Sharon Horgan said: “Her bad decisions don’t come from a bad place.
“They come from a place of coping. So, no, she’s definitely not done making them. I think we all go through phases.
“I’ve always had a reckless side to my personality.
“Sometimes I’m good at keeping a lid on it; depending on what’s happening in my life, good or bad, it can rear its head again.”
Youth is produced by Merman (Amandaland, Bad Sisters, Vladimir).
Alongside Sharon Horgan, additional executive producers are Faye Dorn for Merman, Jim Kleverweis, and Dawn Shadforth, who also directs.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has officially released the trailer for its upcoming third season.
Based on Rick Riordan’s novel Titan’s Curse, the new season premieres on Disney +/Hulu on November 20 with two episodes.
Walker Scobell, 17, returns as the titular demigod Percy.
Joining him are Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Dafne Keen and Ming-Na Wen.
Rounding out the ensemble are Charlie Bushnell, Jason Mantzoukas, Tamara Smart, Kate McKinnon, Holt McCallany and Levi Chrisopulos.
Watch the trailer below:
Soon enough, fans were quick to share their excitement about the trailer on social media.
“This new #PercyJackson trailer is [flame emoji]. I literally cannot wait”, wrote one person.
Another said: “Welp, looks like I have to renew my Disney+ subscription after all.
“Best trailer of the series, tbh!”
A third wrote: “Nico already Sobbing, Crying and Running away in the trailer I CANT DO THIS!!”
A fourth added: “The trailer for season 3 of #PercyJackson is here and it looks incredible!!
“So excited, hop on the train for those who haven’t yet!”
While a fifth agreed: “I’m so excited for S3 and we’re getting 2 episodes a week! #PercyJackson.”
Meanwhile, a logline for the season reads: “If Percy Jackson learned anything after completing two epic quests with Annabeth Chase, it’s that he would be lost without her.
“So when Annabeth is captured by the forces of Kronos, Percy must embark on a perilous journey to rescue her. He must free a goddess in chains, confront the Titan’s curse, and avoid triggering the fall of Olympus.
“With Grover by his side, Percy must join some unlikely questmates to confront a prophecy with dire consequences.”
Author Rick Riordan published his first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief, in 2005.
Meanwhile, the TV adaptation premiered in 2023, with Riordan, wife Rebecca and Jonathan E. Steinberg serving as executive producers.
There have previously been two Percy Jackson movies in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
Logan Lerman starred as Percy, with Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth and Brandon T. Jackson as Grover.
Rising actor Martin Kamm plays a lead role in new teen sitcom Hollywood Arts, released on Netflix.
It is a spin-off to classic Nickelodeon series Victorious, which aired from 2010 to 2013.
The new show’s premise sees Trina Vega return to the titular performing arts high school – but this time, as a teacher.
Martin plays the role of Oscar Ward, a confident-yet-vain student in Trina’s class.
Scroll down below to read our full interview with Martin – about Hollywood Arts and his wider career.
What inspired you to become an actor?
Martin Kamm: I’ve been a performer all of my life. My mom is a vocal coach, so I was always forced to perform growing up.
Did that for a few years and when I got to middle school, I got really angsty. “I don’t want to do this anymore, it’s not my choice.”
Image courtesy of Netflix
I stopped performing for a little while. Then when I was 14, my hometown had this little theatre and they were putting on Beauty and the Beast.
My family was like, “Hey, we want to do this as a family. Do you want to do this with us?” I thought about it and I was like, “Absolutely I do”.
So, I auditioned, I get the starring role – of the Pepper Shaker. And then when we started working on the show, I kind of fell in love with my castmates.
You’re spending so much time with people. You build this community and I got to meet people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Then you finally put on the show and finally hear that applause after you did a huge dance number. You’re like, “I get it now”.
What kind of locked me into it is: I get to provide a space for people to come in from their lives, sit for a few hours and escape to a different world for a little bit.
There’s enough stuff going on that I want people to come in and just escape. To experience joy and that magic is real.
That’s what really pushed me to be an actor.
Before booking Hollywood Arts, how familiar were you with Victorious?
Martin Kamm: I was a fan growing up. The funny thing about that though is when the show was coming out, my Dad was getting his Master’s degree.
So, he got rid of cable – so he could focus. I was like, “Oh okay.” So I went to my buddy’s house and that’s how I got to see the show.
I enjoyed it because during that time, there wasn’t a lot of shows about artists. You had Teen Wolf and all these other shows, we didn’t have anything that kind of represented artists.
That was a show that I felt represented [in] – just as an artist and a nerdy theatre kid. I was definitely a fan growing up.
How would you explain the premise of Hollywood Arts, to anyone who hasn’t heard about it?
Martin Kamm: It’s a different take, a different viewpoint [of Victorious].
We’re dealing with Trina, she’s coming back to Hollywood Arts and doing it as a teacher.
It was something growing up, I thought, “If they ever brought the show back, it’d be really cool if she came back as a teacher.” Sure enough, she comes back.
Image courtesy of Netflix
In terms of Oscar, who from the original cast would you say he’s most similar to?
Martin Kamm: A lot of people say Beck [Avan Jogia], that’s their go-to. Visually, yes, he’s kind of got a little bit of his aesthetic.
But truly, he’s like Trina. He’s very full of himself, the only difference is that… he actually has talent. He can actually back it up.
So when people compare them, I would say Trina is closest to what Oscar is in the show.
How was the experience of working with original cast members like Daniella Monet and Matt Bennett?
Martin Kamm: My experience with some of the original cast members was kind of a dream come true.
Robbie was my favourite character, growing up. And the fact that I’m working with him, it was a dream come true. He’s super funny, very professional.
I remember he invited me out to dinner one time. [He] was like, “Hey, if you’ve got any questions about anything, I’m an open book. Feel free.”
These people kind of mentored us. Daniella Monet, she’s very different from what Trina is.
In real life, she’s very put together. She’s vegan, she eats well. But she also kind of has that teacher quality. She was a good mentor for us on set.
Kind of keep us honed in, focused and diving into multi-cam.
A lot of us – especially me – I’d never done multicam before. This was my first experience with that.
She really made that transition very smooth. It was just absolutely incredible.
Where did filming take place?
Martin Kamm: It was in Vancouver, Canada. In the dead of winter. I think it rained like 60 days straight or something crazy like that.
There’d be little moments when the sun would poke out. We’d run outside like, “We’ve got to soak it in while we can.” It was awesome.
Whst was it like working with your castmates in Hollywood Arts?
Martin Kamm: Oh my gosh, my castmates. First off, [they’re] some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met.
I remember when we first met, we clicked immediately. It took no time, the chemistry was already there.
They’re the most talented people I’ve ever had the honour to share a room with.
I remember one time, during the first episode when Alyssa who plays Emmy does her big performance.
I remember sitting there on the set like, “Wow, how lucky am I that I get to be here and witness this?”
The closeness we shared outside of set too, we would hang out all the time.
We really did become a family. Some of the most fun I’ve had with people, it was incredible.
Courtesy of Netflix
How long were you waiting for the show to come out, after filming it?
Martin Kamm: Quite a while. We wrapped filming in March, like mid-March.
Many of months of like… I’m back home. We go to Canada, have this amazing experience, tons of highs. We’re living our dreams, this is incredible.
I come back to my home in Oklahoma and… nothing’s changed. I have to be quiet too – it’s a wild, wild experience.
The good thing is, the connection I had with the cast, it made it so much better.
We all can relate, we’re all going through the same thing. “Wow, I’m missing the show. I’m missing being back in Vancouver.”
It was good to have them to kind of lean on.
While in Vancouver, did your cast encounter any casts from other projects?
Martin Kamm: Actually yeah. The place they had us booked up, we were with the Scrubs cast. They’re doing a reboot of Scrubs.
One of the guys – man, he is jacked. Him and I would go up to the gym and catch lifts together. It was actually really kind of cool meeting other actors.
Image courtesy of Netflix
Are there any original Victorious characters – who haven’t yet appeared – that you’d want Oscar to have a scene with?
Martin Kamm: If I had to choose an original character… I would probably say Beck.
Then people would get the actual contrast of the two characters. Beck is smooth, he’s very charismatic. But he’s very chilled, very laid back.
Oscar is bombastic, full of energy – just like myself. I’d want that, for sure.
What can you tease, if anything, about the future of Hollywood Arts?
Martin Kamm: All I can say is I’m crossing my fingers for more. That’s all I can say.
I’m right there with everyone. People keep texting me, like, “When’s more? When is more episodes?” I’m like, “I’m waiting right there with you, pal.”
Aside from Hollywood Arts, are there any other projects you’d like to mention?
Martin Kamm: Absolutely. In fact, the day after the show came out, I released an EP called Listen To The Radio.
I have some released music – there’s four songs on the track. If you want to check that out, I would greatly appreciate it. It’s pretty good stuff, if I do say so myself.
My Dad and one of our best friends are also working on producing our own TV show. So we’re very much in pre-production, trying to get that going.
We’re just filming the pilot as a proof of concept – we’re just working on that stuff.
Over the past decade, Sadie Sink has made the jump from Broadway child actress to bonafide on-screen star.
Whether it’s a smash-hit TV show or blockbuster movie, Sink has had the opportunity to make her mark in a variety of projects.
In just under a decade in mainstream spotlight, Sink has an impressive run of credits under her belt – and this will surely continue for years to come.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Most recently, Sink has played a major role in the latest Spider-Man movie, Brand New Day.
She joined returning cast members Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, alongside fellow Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman and Mark Ruffalo.
Courtesy of Jay Maidment/Sony
Sink portrayed Jean Grey, whom comic book and superhero movie fans will recognise as a key member of the X-Men.
Consequently, she is set to reprise the character in an upcoming X-Men film set for release in 2028.
In Brand New Day, Jean starts out as an unidentified villain who is able to jump into people’s minds and control them.
Both Peter Parker/Spider-Man and the audience discover there’s more to Jean’s story — including a heartbreaking twist.
Prior to the film’s premiere, the identity of Sink’s character was a closely guarded secret.
Ardent fans, however, deduced it was Jean Grey, though the cast avoided confirming this to be true.
Following Brand New Day’s release, Sink said to Varietyabout Jean: “Giving [Jean] a backstory is really important — especially given her actions in the film. She’s very flawed.
“You’re meeting her at a strange point, because I don’t think she is someone who wants to harm, but she herself has been harmed, so that’s all she knows.
“So, giving her that backstory and a motive behind her actions is really powerful.”
Sink went on to explain she’d been told Jean was “the villain, but that you’re not actually the villain”.
This influenced how she played the role, given Jean sees her actions as “totally justified”.
Brand New Day also reunited Sink with director Destin Daniel Cretton, after they previously worked together on 2017 film The Glass Castle.
Stranger Things
Courtesy of Netflix
In 2017, Sink was announced to be joining season two of smash-hit Netflix show Stranger Things.
The series debuted the summer prior to worldwide success – making stars out of its young cast members – as well as boosting the profile of adult leads Winona Ryder and David Harbour.
Sink took up the role of Max Mayfield, who moved to the central town of Hawkins, Indiana alongside her stepbrother Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery).
Across multiple seasons, Sink demonstrated her range—navigating an initially contentious dynamic with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) before developing a romance with Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin).
At the end of season four, fans worried for Max’s fate after she wound up in a coma.
This offered Sink a different challenge for some of the fifth and final season with Max’s mind trapped inside Vecna’s psychic realm.
It took the form of a 1950s dreamscape version of Hawkins – all while her body remained unresponsive in the real world.
Discussing letting the character of Max go, Sink told Nylon: “It was just completely bittersweet.
“It’s been 10 years. It’s seen us through so many different phases of our lives.
“All good things must end.”
The Whale
Courtesy of Niko Tavernise
In this psychological drama, Sink starred opposite Brendan Fraser – in a performance that won him an Academy Award.
It was directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Darren Aronofsky.
Sink played Ellie, the estranged daughter of Fraser’s Charlie, a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher.
The premise followed Charlie as he tried to reconnect with Ellie, after abandoning her almost a decade prior.
Speaking with Rooney Mara for Interview Magazine, Sink said: “It really helped me because I’d never done a project like The Whale or worked with someone like Darren.
“Working on that gave me this level of confidence in front of the camera that I did not have before.
“So going back to Stranger Things after that, I felt really different and I think everyone could tell the difference, too. There was a shift.”
The cast also included Samantha Morton, Hong Chau and Ty Simpkins.
Fear Street
In 2021, Sink ventured into the horror film world with her performances in the Fear Street films.
Appearing in Fear Street Part Two: 1978, followed by Fear Street Part Three: 1666, Sink played two different characters.
First – a younger version of Christine “Ziggy” Berman – the older counterpart being played by Gillian Jacobs.
In the latter film, Sink returned as Constance Berman, Ziggy’s ancestor in the 1600s.
She worked with director and screenwriter Leigh Janiak across both movies.
Courtesy of Netflix
Based on R.L. Stine’s books, Fear Street follows a group of high schoolers over a trilogy: first taking place in 1994, then 1978 and lastly 1666.
They attempt to solve a murder mystery as well as a 351 year long curse on the middle American town of Shadyside.
Discussing her experience making Fear Street, Sink told Glamour Magazine: “The biggest moment was one of those final scenes where, ‘bad things are happening.’ I was all bloody, I was laying in the grass, it was like 3:00 AM, and I just thought, ‘these are not good circumstances!
“I feel very physically uncomfortable, but I am having the best time ever! I feel gross and disgusting, but I could not be having more fun.”
Broadway
Prior to Stranger Things, Sink was working on Broadway, where she first met future co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo.
She made her Broadway debut in 2012, playing the title role in Annie until 2014.
Sink subsequently played Young Elizabeth in Peter Morgan’s play The Audience.
After Stranger Things, she returned to the stage with the role of Shelby Holcomb in John Proctor is the Villain.
In 2026, she starred as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet on the West End, opposite Noah Jupe.
