News

As HBO prepares to cast a spell over audiences with its Harry Potter series, discourse about who should play iconic characters in the episodic presentation is alive and well. While some believe the series should remain faithful to the novels, others feel another version of J.K. Rowling’s story needs new magic. While speaking with Variety recently, Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series, revealed who he wants to play the malevolent character for the upcoming series. Without hesitation, Isaacs said he wants legendary actress Meryl Streep to try Lucius Malfoy’s cape and cane on for size.

“Meryl Streep. She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do,” Isaacs told Variety.

Casting Meryl Streep as Lucius Malfoy, the father of Harry Potter villain Draco Malfoy in the books and films, could prove challenging. The casting involves a gender swap for the character,...

Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures have finally launched the full-length official trailer for Joseph Kosinski's F1, the upcoming summer action blockbuster starring 2x Academy Award-winner Brad Pitt (Fight Club; Bullet Train; Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood) as Sonny Hayes, "the greatest that never was."

Speaking with reporters at the trailer launch, the Top Gun: Maverick director teased what we can expect from his next high octane thriller, "Watching Brad drive around at speeds over 180 miles an hour was really impressive to see because it's not something you can just learn overnight. The dedication and the focus that Brad put into this process has been amazing to witness. This film has got it all: Brad Pitt, speed, thrills, an epic underdog story, drama, humor, and a little bit of romance."

As per the synopsis, the film follows Hayes, "Formula 1's most promising phenom of the 1990s...

[Editor’s Note: this list was originally published in July 2017. It has been updated multiple times with new entries.]

Both on the awards circuit and in the public consciousness, HBO is widely regarded as among the first Hollywood heavyweights to recognize that television, as a medium, had the power to deliver sprawling, large scale stories on a smaller screen. From HBO’s ascent in the late 1990s through its dragon-aided roar across the 2010s, the network’s original series tackled universal stories, stretching across continents and decades.

The network hasn’t been without controversy, though. HBO faced questions about its lack of diversity in flagship series, including “Game of Thrones” and “Girls,” throughout the 2010s. And, unshackled from the restrictions of broadcast TV, the various steps the network took to push the limit of what’s allowed on screen garnered a fair share of pearl-clutching headlines; see “The Sopranos” in the ’90s and “Euphoria” just a few years back. And since the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, there’s...

John Lithgow has had many iconic roles so far, but he has a brand-new chance to leave a different legacy with his upcoming role. The American actor will officially become the new Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series.

The actor is the only officially confirmed cast member for the upcoming Harry Potter reboot. HBO is planning to adapt all seven novels with one season per book, further allowing more time to develop the story and the characters. Speaking with Variety, Lithgow admitted he didn't know very much about Harry Potter, but he shares a magical connection with a former Dumbledore, the late Michael Gambon.

"I was a huge admirer of Michael Gambon," the actor revealed. "I never met him, but I always kind of idolized him. And Michael Gambon and I happened to have the same birthday, so I thought that was a kind of wizard-like touch.

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong will be among the headline speakers at this year’s inaugural cinema programme at the Hay Literary Festival.

Running from May 22nd to June 1st, the longtime literary festival announced its plans earlier this month to expand with a new sidebar dedicated to cinema in collaboration with Mubi.

The full festival programme was announced this morning and Armstrong will feature in the cinema talks programme alongside Normal People and I May Destroy You intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien, director Marc Evans, producer Ed Talfan and screenwriters Tom Bullough and Josh Hyams (Mr Burton).

Rebecca Lenkiewicz will also pass through Hay to discuss her adaptation of Deborah Levy’s Hot Milk while novelist Robert Harris discusses the adaptation of his novel Conclave.

The festival’s screening programme, taking place at the newly erected Mubi Cinema, will screen titles from the Mubi catalog including Mia Hansen-Løve’s Bergman Island,...

Although nothing has been officially confirmed, HBO continues to fill out the cast of its Harry Potter TV show, one actor at a time.

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two | Warner Bros.

Another day, another casting as HBO continues working on a TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO has offered the role of Severus Snape to British actor Paapa Essiedu, although it’s unclear if it is official or not.

Snape is one of the biggest characters in the Harry Potter series. The embittered, intelligent, and seething Potions professor at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fan favorite, partly due to the late Alan Rickman’s portrayal and partly for his instant loathing of young Harry Potter from the moment he arrives.

Enter Paapa Essiedu Paapa Essiedu in The Lazarus Project...

Ya son tres los actores confirmados para el reboot. © Warner Bros

De acuerdo con Deadline, el actor británico Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) interpretará a Severus Snape –un casting no exento de críticas- y la doble oscarizada Janet McTeer a la profesora Minerva McGonagall en la serie de Harry Potter de HBO, descrita como una fiel adaptación de los libros de J.K. Rowling. Ambos actores estarían ultimando sus acuerdos (con el primero cerrándolo y la segunda en conversaciones avanzadas). Se unen así al que era el único fichaje confirmado de la serie: John Lithgow (Cónclave) como el legendario director de Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

Si algo ha marcado la producción de esta nueva versión televisiva de Harry Potter, han sido los rumores. Rumores que incluyen a Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) para el guardabosques de Hogwarts Rubeus Hagrid, Phoebe Waller Bridge (Indiana Jones y el dial del destino) como Petunia Dursley...

Alright, Potterheads, grab your wands and memorize your spells, because we’re diving into the ongoing debate that’s got the fandom into a frenzy! The rumor surrounding HBO’s Harry Potter TV reboot casting I May Destroy You star, Paapa Essiedu, as Severus Snape. And, of course, netizens are losing their minds over a potential Black Snape.

A still from the Harry Potter films | image: Warner Bros.

Ever since this speculation made headlines, fans have been constantly bickering about Severus Snape’s color description in the novels. Some mentioned how J.K. Rowling skipped addressing Snape’s skin tone, others asserted that Snape is White. Now, while one line from the books can dismiss this whole debate, let’s look at the bigger picture—if a Black Snape can work for HBO’s reboot.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban hinted at Severus Snape’s skin tone

It’s...

Wands at the ready Potterheads — here's a bit of Friday evening news that's sure to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. Following hot on the heels of John Lithgow's casting as Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series, it looks like the network giant may have just found two more acting heavyweights prepared to board the Hogwarts Express and take up post at fiction's most famous school of witchcraft and wizardry. According to Deadline, Oscar nominee and Kaos star Janet McTeer is in talks to play Professor Minerva McGonagall in HBO's ambitious new show, while The Lazarus Project's Paapa Essiedu — long rumoured to be on the Wizarding World casting wishlist — is reportedly close to closing a deal to play Potions Master and actual Half-Blood Prince Professor Severus Snape.

Originally portrayed by the late, great Dame Maggie Smith and the also sorely missed Alan Rickman respectively,...

The floodgates are opening. The other week, we learned that American actor John Lithgow would play Albus Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV show, the first major casting announcement to come out of this series. Now, Deadline has the scoop on a couple more actors circling major roles. We'd already heard that Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu was close to nabbing the role of Harry Potter's caustic Potions professor Severus Snape; he's now closer than ever, although the deal isn't 100% done just yet. The new face in the crowd is fellow Emmy nominee Janet McTeer, who's up for the role of Transfiguration professor Minerva McGonagall.

McTeer earned her Emmy nomination playing Winston Churchill's wife Clementine in the HBO film Into the Storm, while Essiedu got his starring opposite Michael Coel in the HBO limited series I May Destroy You, playing Kwame. So the both of them are familiar to HBO.

HBO's "Harry Potter" TV series may have just found its Professor Minerva McGonagall, and in the tradition of the late, great Dame Maggie Smith, the character will be played by another decorated actress of stage and screen. Deadline reports that Janet McTeer, the two-time Oscar nominee and Tony Winner who was recently seen in FX's "The Old Man," is "in negotiations" to take on the role.

McTeer has been acting on screen since the 1980s, earning accolades for turns in movies like "Albert Nobbs" and "Tumbleweed" and taking memorable roles in Netflix's "Ozark," "Jessica Jones," and more. Most recently, she appeared opposite Jeff Bridges in the aforementioned FX drama, and played the goddess Hera in the Greek pantheon series "Kaos." McTeer also had a memorable part in 2022's comedic horror hit "The Menu," and earned an Emmy nod for playing the wife of Winston Churchill in the 2009 miniseries "Into the Storm.

Exclusive: HBO is closing in on two more main cast members for its high-profile series adaptation of the hugely popular Harry Potter fantasy books. Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer is in negotiations to play Professor Minerva McGonagall, sources tell Deadline. Additionally, Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu, one of the first actors identified for the series, is closing his deal to portray Professor Severus Snape, I hear. They are poised to join John Lithgow, who, as Deadline reported exclusively, will be playing Professor Albus Dumbledore.

HBO declined comment. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” the network said in a statement. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

The Harry Potter series, designed to run over a decade, comes from writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod. Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content,...

One thing about John Lithgow that is undeniable is that he is very much not English. Nevertheless, he’s been picked to play the very, very English icon Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series.

But “don’t worry about that,” the actor assured fan in a recent interview. He plans to “spend some time with a dialect coach” to make sure he gets the accent right.

“he’s certainly an Englishman. In fact, there’s a good deal of controversy that an American has been hired to play him,” Lithgow said while speaking to Collider in an interview posted Thursday.

Taking a moment to remind people that he famously portrayed Winston Churchill in the hit Netflix drama “The Crown,” Lithgow said, “I’ll spend some time with a dialect coach. Don’t worry about that. But no, I mean, Dumbledore couldn’t possibly be anything other than English.

Charlotte Moore’s decision to quit the BBC has opened up the most powerful creative job in British television — and within minutes speculation was rampant about who could succeed the outgoing content chief.

Moore shocked the industry this morning by announcing plans to take on a dual role at Sony Pictures Television, which will involve overseeing international creative output and running The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures as CEO. She will replace Andy Harries, who yesterday revealed he is transitioning to Executive Chairman.

Sources say Moore has been in talks for months with Wayne Garvie, president of Sony Pictures Television, International, about a unique role. These discussions overlapped with Moore being courted for an international role at Disney but in the end, she opted for Sony. “I think a creative challenge without the politics of a global company had more appeal to her in a post-bbc life,” said an indie...

John Lithgow himself confirmed he is set to play Dumbledore in the upcoming “Harry Potter” series at HBO.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Lithgow revealed he is indeed playing the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy in the hotly anticipated TV remake of J.K. Rowling’s books. For him, it represented a career-defining choice.

“Well, it came as a total surprise to me,” he said. “I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid. But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That’s why it’s been such a hard decision. I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”

The...

After reports that HBO was circling John Lithgow to portray Professor Dumbledore in its upcoming “Harry Potter” series, the actor has confirmed in a new interview that he is indeed taking the role. He expressed his excitement and nervousness at committing to such a role for so many years.

“It came as a total surprise to me. I got the phone call at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision, because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” Lithgow told the fan site Screen Rant. “But I’m very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to ‘Harry Potter.'”

Lithgow was asked if he’s prepared to portray Dumbledore for seven seasons worth of television. Lithgow previously starred in six seasons of the sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun,” which...

The Harry Potter films were once upon a time a depository for every British and Irish thespian in the business — Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Richard Harris, and Michael Gambon — the list goes on. Now though, an American actor could potentially take the wand of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

John Lithgow, who is American, is nearing a deal to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series reboot, according to a report in Deadline.

When reached, HBO reps declined comment on the report. HBO told Deadline, “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

No cast has been announced for the Harry Potter series as of yet, which is showrun by writer Francesca Gardiner and also comes from director and executive producer Mark Mylod.

HBO is zeroing in on a key castmember for its Harry Potter series.

The premium cabler is in talks with John Lithgow to play Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. News of Lithgow’s potential involvement follows THR’s reporting that British actor Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is in discussions to play Professor Severus Snape.

HBO declined comment.

The Harry Potter show is described as a “faithful” adaptation of author J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series chronicling the young wizards years at Hogwarts and his eventual face-off with the evil Lord Voldemort. Warner Bros. Television Group chairman and CEO said in November that “as somebody who is a huge fan of books, the opportunity to get to explore them in maybe a little bit more in-depth than you can in just a two-hour film, that’s the whole reason we’re on this journey.

HBO’s series adaptation of “Harry Potter” may have found its Dumbledore. John Lithgow is close to closing a deal to portray the iconic character, according to multiple media reports.

The series is expected to begin filming this summer in Leavesden. Previously, all eight of the Warner Bros. “Harry Potter” movies were filmed in the English commercial area.

“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals,” HBO said in a statement to TheWrap.

The headmaster of Hogwarts was previously portrayed by Richard Harris in the film adaptations of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Michael Gambon then took over the role in the six other “Harry Potter” films, and Jude Law portrayed the character in the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise.

Exclusive: I May Destroy You producer Various Artists Limited (Val) has landed its latest BBC project, a drama series about a family holiday to Greece that turns into a nightmare.

Val is currently casting on Two Weeks in August, which comes from The Shrink Next Door writer Catherine Shepherd. ITV Studios is producing in association with and selling worldwide.

Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. Zoe begins to act on her deepest desires and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up. But when they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations, the group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame.

Val is on a hot streak with the BBC,...

The BBC has issued the starkest warning yet about the UK scripted funding crisis, telling lawmakers that multiple greenlit series are “stuck in limbo.”

In a written submission to British Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, the national broadcaster said: “We are starting to face significant and urgent challenges in getting productions across genres made, even those that have been greenlit by our commissioners to move forward into production.”

The BBC’s evidence, submitted to an inquiry on British film and high-end television, added: “Multiple greenlit BBC productions are now stuck in funding limbo and are not progressing to production.”

Warning lights have been flashing for weeks about the crisis, with Deadline reporting on BBC director general Tim Davie holding talks about the crisis with seasoned scripted producers. Black Doves producer Jane Featherstone also told lawmakers this month that the BBC is struggling to fund “multiple” series on its books.

Jesse Armstrong has landed on his follow-up to Succession at HBO — but it’s not a series project.

Armstrong, who created the multiple Emmy-winning series, is now writing a feature film for HBO. He’ll also serve as an executive producer alongside Frank Rich; the two were EPs of Succession together, and both have overall deals at HBO.

The movie is based on an original idea of Armstrong’s and will center on four friends who meet up in the midst of a global financial crisis. Production is currently fast-tracked to start later this year.

Armstrong won four writing Emmys for his work on Succession — one for each of the show’s seasons. The series also took home the award for best drama in three of its four eligible years (losing out on the final season of Game of Thrones in 2019).

How Armstrong would follow Succession has been the subject...

Tom Cruise is undoubtedly a trendsetter, Hollywood’s biggest action star, still churning out hits even at the age of 62. His latest work came in the form of Top Gun: Maverick, and the 2023-released Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

While Maverick was nominated for 5 Academy award categories, it took home 2 Golden Globes. And while the movie did extremely well both with critics and fans, Cruise himself was snubbed at the 2023 Golden Globes. That was not due to his work not being up to the mark.

Instead, it was because Cruise had returned three Golden Globe trophies back in 2021, as a protest against the systemic racism and corruption within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization behind the prestigious awards.

Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globes in 2021 Magnolia (1999) [Credit: New Line Cinema]

Tom Cruise has been synonymous with cinematic brilliance, with three Golden Globes adorning his illustrious career:...

In 2023, Max announced a 10-year commitment to adapt J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter books as a TV show, promising to usher in "a new generation of fandom" with the rebooted series. In the time since the announcement, numerous members of the original Harry Potter movie cast have voiced their opinions on the reboot — from Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) to Bonnie Wright (Ginny) — mostly offering positive words and encouragement.

The latest to weigh in on the reboot is none other than Lord Voldemort himself, Ralph Fiennes! While at the Golden Globe Awards after being nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor for his role in Conclave, Fiennes was naturally asked for his thoughts on the new Harry Potter series. "I’m not surprised," he admitted, per People. "It was a while ago those films were made."

Fiennes doesn't say whether he's for or against the reboot; he merely understands that...

Over the past decade or so, the limited series has become one of the most prestigious and highly regarded entertainment formats. Shows like "The Queen's Gambit," "Chernobyl," and "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story," helped establish the limited series as a dominant force in Hollywood, and the accompanying category at the Primetime Emmy Awards has been one of the most competitive over the last several years. Acclaimed series like "I May Destroy You," "Mare of Easttown," "Unorthodox," and "Ripley" — all of which likely would have been shoo-in winners in earlier years — have lost out recently after well-earned nominations

But what exactly is a limited series? The current official rules from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences state that to be eligible for any awards in the limited series categories, a show must have "two (2) or more episodes with a total running time of at least 150 program minutes that tells a complete,...

Now that the entertainment industry is buzzing with tantalizing reports of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot and casting of the iconic characters from J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels, netizens are taking to social media to fan-cast certain A-list actors into the titular roles. Recently, Cillian Murphy, Andrew Garfield, and Hugh Grant made their way onto that list.

A still from the Harry Potter films | image: Warner Bros.

Considering how HBO is currently eyeing actors for the upcoming reboot, fans shared AI-made pictures of Cillian Murphy as Voldemort, and Andrew Garfield as Remus Lupin, on Instagram. Meanwhile, several other actors were also transformed into beloved Harry Potter characters through AI, which took the internet by storm. So let’s check them out with a swish and flick of a wand.

Fans shared AI images of Cillian Murphy and Andrew Garfield in Harry Potter roles

The Harry Potter fandom has undoubtedly...

Thirteen years after “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” released in theaters and brought an end to Harry’s journey on the big screen, the Harry Potter universe is gearing up for a return in the form of episodic television.

Led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod of “Succession,” HBO’s take on the beloved book-turned-movie-franchise aims to bring the magical world back to life as Harry Potter discovers he’s a wizard and leaves his muggle family behind to attend Hogwarts, a school of magic. Along the way, he befriends Ron and Hermione and becomes a significant part of a plot against Lord Voldemort, or as most call him, “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

The show comes nearly 30 years after J.K. Rowling published “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which was adapted into a film directed by Chris Columbus in 2001. In total, the original “Harry Potter” film series has...

HBO's Harry Potter TV show is on the horizon, and casting rumors about who will play Hogwarts' famous professors have recently surfaced, revealing the direction of the remake. Simultaneously, an open casting call continues for the Golden Trio: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. The Harry Potter movies are enshrined in the hearts of viewers of all ages, and it could be difficult for the TV show to live up to their legacy. Now that casting has begun, it is becoming clear how the series may differ from the movies.

Released between 2001 and 2011, the Warner Bros. Harry Potter movies featured Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron, and Emma Watson as Hermione. These actors made the franchise what it was, alongside the movies' strong adult cast. Richard Harris famously played Albus Dumbledore in the first two movies before the role was taken over by Michael Gambon. The Harry...

Steven Soderbergh stays busy — and he's always working with the best people, huh? Add to that list the cast of his latest dark comedy film: Michaela Coel, Ian McKellen, and James Cordon, all of whom are slated to star in the forthcoming The Christophers.

Slated to begin production in February in London, the story — according to some exclusive reporting from Variety — is said to focus on the estranged children of a once-famous artist who, upon his death, hire a forger to complete his unfinished works in order to cash in on their sale after they're "discovered." Sounds like it has the potential to be a very funny rumination on death and artistry and why things are deemed more important after someone's life is over. There's no word yet on who has been cast in which role, but all of that will likely become clear closer to production.

Who is The...

Deadline reports that Steven Soderbergh is setting up the cast for his next project, with Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings), Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), and James Corden (Cats) signing on.

Titled The Christophers, the dark comedy is “about the estranged children of a once-famous artist who hire a forger to complete his unfinished works so they can be discovered and sold after his death.” The movie has been scripted by Ed Solomon, who has worked with Soderbergh on several projects, including No Sudden Move, Full Circle, and Mosaic. Production will kick off in London in February.

Related Michael Mann’s The Keep gets a 4K Uhd release from Vinegar Syndrome

Soderbergh has several movies set to debut in the new year. First up is Presence, a psychological thriller about a family who moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they are not alone after a...

Exclusive: Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings franchise), Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), and James Corden (Gavin & Stacey) are set to star in The Christophers, the next film from Steven Soderbergh, which goes into production in London in February.

The Christophers is a dark comedy about the estranged children of a once-famous artist who hire a forger to complete his unfinished works so they can be discovered and sold after his death. Script is by Ed Solomon, Soderbergh’s collaborator on the 2021 crime thriller No Sudden Move, Max miniseries Full Circle, HBO murder mystery Mosaic (released as both a series and a mobile app), and Bill & Ted Face the Music (which Soderbergh exec produced).

Department M, run by Michael Schaefer and Mike Larocca, will finance the film, with Schaefer and Larocca to serve as executive producers. Schaefer comes to the project after collaborating with Soderbergh on his 2018 film Unsane...

Channel 4 To Spotlight ‘The Trial Of Michael Jackson’

Michael Jackson’s trial will be spotlighted in a Channel 4 doc series from Wonderhood Studios. The Trial of Michael Jackson [working title] will feature contributors who have never spoken before to plot the story of the singer’s 2005 criminal trial alongside his rise to fame and life in the spotlight. It will explore Jackson’s relationship with the media and delve into his life story. In 2005, Jackson went on trial for molesting Gavin Arvizo, who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged abuse. Jackson was acquitted on all counts several months later. Many years on, Channel 4-hbo’s Leaving Neverland aired allegations from two other men of sexual abuse by Jackson when they were boys, and this remains one of the network’s best-performing shows of the past few years. The Trial was commissioned by Channel 4’s senior commissioning editor Anna Miralis and Alisa Pomeroy,...

The first big casting news about HBO's Harry Potter remake has surfaced, and it's a great sign for the upcoming Wizarding World TV show. HBO's Harry Potter series will offer a modernized take on the books, and its TV format should allow it to be more faithful than the original adaptations. While the Harry Potter movies are fairly well-regarded, they cut a decent number of smaller storylines and characters from the source material. As the TV show will revisit the Harry Potter books, it has the opportunity to tackle their story more accurately.

Of course, this also means replacing the Harry Potter movies' iconic cast — an undertaking that's likely to be the most challenging aspect of selling HBO's remake. Many of Harry Potter's stars have become synonymous with their roles, so the TV show's creators will need to choose actors wisely in order to successfully replace them. Fortunately, the first...

Earlier this week, we got word that Paapa Essiedu was in talks to play Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter TV series, and Deadline has now thrown a few more names into the mix for several other prominent supporting characters.

It's safe to say that fans might be surprised by some of the actors that are reportedly being eyed for certain roles!

Though "no formal offers" have been made, Dune: Prophecy star Mark Strong is said to be in contention to play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore (along with the previously-reported Mark Rylance), with Bad Sisters co-creator/star Sharon Horgan and Constantine and The Mummy alum Rachel Weisz eyed for Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

Finally, Ted Lasso and Thor: Love and Thunder actor Brett Goldstein is reportedly in line to play Hagrid.

HBO is playing this one very close to the vest, and has responded with the same statement for every...

Harry Potter fans assemble! The new HBO TV show is gearing up with its cast selection and release. Ever since Warner Bros. announced the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s magical world into a TV series, the audience has been going crazy about it. Each season will be developed based on one of the seven books. Harry Potter has been a fan favorite for years, not only in the books but also in film adaptations.

A snippet from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | Credits: Warner Bros.

Whenever we hear stories about Harry Potter, we picture Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, and so on. The actors have all become synonymous with their characters. However, now that the new TV series is coming, reports have been rife that Mark Rylance has been eyed for playing Albus Dumbledore. As per a few recent reports,...

If there was awareness tracking for a TV series slated to premiere in two years, HBO’s Harry Potter would score through the roof. From the moment the “faithful adaptation” of the beloved book series by J.K. Rowling was officially announced in April 2023 as a “decade-long series,” the project has been the subject of unprecedented fan interest and scrutiny, from author Rowling’s role as executive producer in light of some of her controversial statements through every creative development, including the elaborate search for a writer, which resulted in the hire of Succession‘s Francesca Gardiner.

The frenzy has now reached fever pitch as the series has begun casting ahead of its summer 2025 start of production. As Gardiner revealed this week that some 32,000 kids had sent audition tapes for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione and Ron, the series’ producers and casting director Lucy Bevan also have been busy compiling...

Whether it comes to movies or books, there will probably never be a franchise like Harry Potter. Even after all these years, it continues to be read, watched, and enjoyed by new and old fans across the world, proving that J.K. Rowling didn’t just write a story but created literal magic through her words.

Harry Potter | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

And now years after the movie series ended, a television series is in the works and already it has been gaining criticism for potentially casting a Black actor for the role of Severus Snape. While the series might land a Black Snape, it might score a win with its latest hiring.

HBO’s Harry Potter Series Might Have a Black Severus Snape Paapa Essiedu | Credit: Press / BBC One

Harry Potter is not just a franchise, rather it is a special part of the lives of millions of fans across the world.

Why Aren’t Harry Potter Fans Pleased with Rumored Snape Casting in the HBO Reboot? - Main Image

Recent reports revealed that HBO has found an actor who will play Severus Snape in the Harry Potter TV series reboot. However, fans are not pleased with the potential casting.

Since the project was announced, there has been anticipation of who will play the iconic characters in the small-screen adaptation of the J.K. Rowling-penned series. As production is now slated to begin next year, we've been hearing reports regarding its casting.

Who is Reportedly Playing Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter Reboot?

It was recently reported that Emmy-nominated actor Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is being eyed to play Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter TV series reboot.

It is unknown yet whether he is already in active negotiations for the project, but he has already been offered the part.

The new take on the Harry Potter books is going to be filming in 2025, ahead of a 2027 debut on HBO. More here.

HBO’s anticipated Harry Potter series is edging closer to production, as showrunners confirm shooting will begin in summer 2025.

It’s taken a while to get here. Since it was announced, Harry Potter fans – the ones happy at the idea of an effective remake – have been awaiting further news about the television series. A gargantuan undertaking, the aim is to adapt one book per series, meaning an extremely long term commitment to whichever creative team took on the challenge.

It was revealed earlier this year that Succession’s Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod will act as showrunner and director, respectively. Author J K Rowling is also onboard as an executive producer.

There has been a flurry of Harry Potter news in the last few days. Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter...

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ series adaptation has reportedly found the actor for one of its most important roles. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu has been offered the role of Severus Snape, the Hogwarts potions teacher who is Harry Potter’s nemesis and (spoiler alert) secret protector.

THR reports that Essiedu has been offered the role, but it’s not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest.

Essiedu is a British actor whose profile has been steadily rising over the past few years. He is known for his performances in the Emmy-winning 2020 limited series “I May Destroy You,” the action series “Gangs of London,” the sci-fi series “The Lazarus Project,” and the “Demon 79” episode of “Black Mirror.” He was nominated for an Emmy for “I May Destroy You” and BAFTAs for “I May Destroy You” and “The Lazarus Project.” He is a current nominee for a Drama...

In the second episode of “Black Doves,” a new spy series (this one on Netflix), the woman we’ve come to know as Helen Shaw (Keira Knightley) is seen in flashback interviewing for the job she’s now working. Well, kind of.

“Daisy” (her name at the time) answered an advertisement for a position as a translator, but as becomes clearer as her questions continues — sharing details about Helen’s personal history that no typical hiring manager should know — she’s not being asked to convert German to English. She’s being asked to decode identities, intuitions, and ideas. She’s being tested to see if she has the emotional capacity to hide in plain site, to react calmly to obvious provocations, and to get more out of the person sitting across from her than he gets from her. She’s being asked to become a spy.

But, quite notably,...

HBO is currently working on a TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO has offered the role of Severus Snape to actor British actor Paapa Essiedu, although it's unclear if it's a done deal as of yet.

Snape is one of the biggest in the Harry Potter series. The embittered, intelligent Potions professor at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape seems to loathe young Harry Potter from the moment he arrives, for reasons that are teased out over the course of the series. But Snape also helps Harry as he grows into his role as the Chosen One destined to stop the dark wizard Voldemort. It's complicated, you'll see.

As for Essiedu, he's an experience actor with parts in TV shows like I May Destroy You and Black Mirror, movies like Murder on the Orient Express, and in Royal Shakespeare Company...

Though nothing is 100% official just yet, it looks like HBO may have found our small-screen Snape.

THR is reporting that British actor Paapa Essiedu is now in talks to play Hogwarts' cunning potions master, Professor Severus Snape, in the upcoming Harry Potter series. Essiedu is said to have been offered the part, but it's not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest.

Essiedu has appeared in the likes of Black Mirror, Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project, and I May Destroy You, as well as movies such as Men, The Outrun, and Femme.

This take on Snape is described as the "wickedly smart and casually cruel Hogwarts potions master who comes across as the story’s primary antagonist in the show’s first season." The character was previously played by the late Alan Rickman in Warner Bros.' eight Harry Potter movies.

HBO said in a statement, “We appreciate that...

Aidan Gillen (Games Of Thrones) and Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) have signed on to star in the horror film Black Noise from Blunt Pictures and NoW Films.

Described as a “hallucinogenic horror,” the film will be directed by Simon Blake and produced by Colette Delaney-Smith.

Aidan plays Hector the eldest member of the wealthy Livingstone family returning for a memorial meal to celebrate his father’s life. Phillips will play the lead role of Leda, a journalist attending the meal, but her true intentions to seek justice diverge with The Butler, a man with revenge very much on his mind.

Also starring are Tom Mothersdale (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light), Rebecca Calder (I May Destroy You), Michael Jibson (Last Night In Soho), Jeanie Hackman (The Death of Bunny Munro), and Whitstable Pearl (Acorn).

Principal photography begins in Suffolk and London this month.

Producer Colette Delany-Smith describes the film as a “haunting,...

A live-action Harry Potter TV series was first announced for HBO Max in January 2021, but there were delays due to an existing deal with Warner Bros. that lasts until April 2025.

The series was officially confirmed in April 2023 and will stream on Max (formerly HBO Max). In February 2024, Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav announced the show would launch in 2026, and by June 2024, it was revealed the series would move from Max to HBO.

No official details about the show have been released yet, and no actors are confirmed, but Mark Rylance is close to being cast as Albus Dumbledore. Rumors about actors like Cillian Murphy playing Lord Voldemort are false and have not been confirmed.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Paapa Essiedu is being considered for the role of Severus Snape. Paapa gained fame for his role in I May Destroy You (2020), earning Emmy and BAFTA nominations, and has also...

A live-action ‘Harry Potter’ TV series was first reported to be in development for HBO Max in January 2021. However, there were issues with rights to the franchise due to an existing deal with Warner Bros. that lasted until April 2025.

The series was officially confirmed in April 2023 and will be available on Max (formerly HBO Max). In February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the show would launch in 2026. Then, in June 2024, it was announced that the series would be moved from Max to HBO.

So far nothing is known about the show in the official sense, no actors have been officially cast, but Mark Rylance is close to being signed for the role of Albus Dumbledore. There have been rumors about actors, including Cillian Murphy for the role of Lord Voldemort, but these are not true and were never confirmed by the official sources.

Now sources close to The Hollywood Reporter...

The Wizarding World seems to be making great progress in its attempt to bring the Harry Potter world back to fans, except in a revamped TV series version. While the official casting choices have yet to be announced for all the major characters, reports and some currently unconfirmed suggestions are swirling around nonetheless on who could play what in the new magical lore.

The Harry Potter film series. | Credits: Warner Bros.

That said, the most recent speculation is currently swirling around two of the most prominent characters of the saga: Professor Snape and Lord Voldemort. While Paapa Essiedu has reportedly been offered the role of the former, the Dark Lord portrayer Ralph Fiennes, on the other hand, is notably rallying for Cillian Murphy to take on the mantle of the latter – i.e. Voldemort – from him.

Harry Potter’s 2 Prominent Characters Seem to Have Already Found Their Matches

After more...

Apparently, "Harry Potter" media will continue no matter what, despite nearly two decades of the franchise's dominance over pop culture and the fantasy/adventure genres in particular. If a new "Potter" TV series must be made, as corporate interests deem it so, then the least that can happen is that some talented, creative people can try to elevate the material and make it their own.

That's just what seems to be happening with the news that actor Paapa Essiedu is in talks to portray Severus Snape in HBO's re-adaptation of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" saga. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the ink is not yet dry on Essiedu's deal, with the trade publication stating that "Sources say the actor has been offered the part although it is not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest." This tracks, given that no actors have officially signed on to the series yet,...

Keira Knightley trades the Black Pearl for the Black Doves in her new Netflix series, turning from pirate to spy.

The new series, now streaming on Netflix, is a thriller centered on Helen, a mother and devoted wife — who just so happens to also be a professional spy who’s been passing on secrets about her politician husband to her bosses. So, maybe not super devoted.

When her secret lover is assassinated, her spymaster, Helen’s old friend Sam — who is an assassin — is called in to keep her safe.

You’ll definitely recognize a lot of faces in this series, so we’ve rounded them up for you. Here’s a handy guide to the “Black Doves” cast.

Netflix Helen Webb (Keira Knightley)

Helen is a spy known as a Black Dove, who steals secrets from her husband and passing them on to her employers. She’s played by...

More casting information is getting revealed for the upcoming Harry Potter reboot series in the works at HBO. The latest update suggests that the role of Severus Snape is about to be cast.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, it's been reported that acclaimed actor Paapa Essiedu has been offered the role of Professor Severus Snape, but it's not yet clear if negotiations have since ensued. The Snape character was memorably portrayed by late actor Alan Rickman in the live-action Harry Potter movie series, and he was initially featured as an antagonist earlier on in the franchise. With the first season of the HBO series expected to take direct inspiration from the first installment of the novel series by J.K. Rowling, it's likely that the new Slytherin will serve a similar role.

Related 10 Great Movies Starring Multiple Harry Potter Actors

The Harry Potter movies are packed with amazing actors who have also...