HBO names five new actors for Harry Potter ghost roles
The network confirmed casting for the Sorting Hat and four Hogwarts ghosts ahead of the series premiere on Christmas Day.
By Bianca Herrera ·
HBO revealed five new cast members for its upcoming Harry Potter series on Thursday. The announcements coincide with the Halloween holiday and expand the season one lineup with actors for the school's spectral residents and the Sorting Hat.
The network stated that David Threlfall will provide the voice for the Sorting Hat. Leo Bill was cast as Nearly Headless Nick, while Andrew Brooke will play the Bloody Baron. Daniel Fearn will portray the Fat Friar, and Laura Smyth will take the role of the Fat Lady.
These characters serve specific functions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The ghosts, alongside the Fat Lady's portrait, grant Gryffindor students access to their dormitory if they provide the correct password. The Sorting Hat assigns new students to one of the four houses.
The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is scheduled to debut on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day 2026. The network renewed the show for a second season on May 6, several months before the first episode airs.
Dominic McLaughlin leads the main cast as Harry Potter. He is joined by Alastair Stout, who plays Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton, who plays Hermione Granger. J.K. Rowling serves as an executive producer for the project, which is described as a faithful adaptation of the original books.
