HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Casts Tom Riddle, Dobby and a New Ginny Weasley
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HBO has cast three more key roles for the second season of its Harry Potter TV series.
The network has filled the roles of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. young Lord Voldemort), Dobby the house elf, and has recast the role of Ginny Weasley.
Riddle will be played by Billy Barratt (Bring Her Back, Invasion). At age 13, Barratt became the youngest winner of the International Emmy Award for best actor for his role in the TV movie Responsible Child. Barratt is the first actor to be cast as Voldemort in the new adaptation. There’s been tremendous speculation online about who will play the grown-up version of the character, which has not yet been revealed, though his face presumably appears at the end of the first season.
British actor and presenter Lenny Rush (A Woman of Substance) will play the role of Dobby (which will presumably be rendered using CG).
While young Bonnie Hill (The Six Triple Eight, Girl Troop versus Aliens) will step into the role of Ginny for season two — a role that’s being recast after the original actor had to step aside after shooting season one. “Due to unforeseen circumstances Gracie Cochrane has made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after season one,” the production previously said in a statement. “Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience. Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds.”
The move comes on the heels of HBO releasing a new trailer for the series — titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for its first season — featuring a much more detailed look at the cast and Potter’s first year at Hogwarts.
HBO also released a new description for the season: “There is nothing special about Harry Potter – or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick and Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout.
The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will debut Dec. 25 on HBO.