HBO’s Harry Potter Series Adds Hogwarts Ghosts and Portrait

Threlfall will provide the voice of the Sorting Hat, which assigns Hogwarts students to houses. Leo Bill will portray Nearly Headless Nick, Gryffindor’s ghost, while Andrew Brooke joins as Slytherin ghost the Bloody Baron and Daniel Fearn as Hufflepuff ghost the Fat Friar. Smyth will play the Fat Lady, whose portrait guards the entrance to Gryffindor’s quarters.

The first season adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and is set to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on December 25. Its previously announced cast includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron, alongside John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Snape.

A second season is now in development, drawing from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Newly revealed performers for the next season are Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart, Lenny Rush as Dobby and Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, as well as Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley and Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle.

Francesca Gardiner is writing and executive producing the first season. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct several episodes. HBO is producing the show alongside Bronte Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. J.K. Rowling is among its executive producers.