Harry Potter, the series: the Casting from the nightmare and the new protagonists

Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout are the new ones Harry, Hermione and Ron in the TV series on Harry Potter Produced by HBO, coming (perhaps) in 2026. The news bounced everywhere, with photos, Reels and infinite assumptions. But behind the choice of the three protagonists there is a longer and less magical story than it seems: a casting-monstre from over 30 thousand aspiring wizards, which lasted months and lived as a cross between X Factor It is a audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Nightmare selections

To reconstruct the stages of the selection was the journalist Yasmin Rufo of the BBC, who collected testimonies from some parents of the children involved. It was immediately clear that it was not a walk: in the first phase, each participant had to send two videos – one with a text chosen by the production, the other with a monologue inspired by his hobbies. There was also a second test, definitely more pop: reciting a scene from And the extra-terrestrial. A way to test sensitivity, the ability to excite, the hold in front of a script.

Marcus, Daniela Tasker’s son, has reached the selections. Then, silence. “A little disappointment was, of course,” said the mother to the BBC. «But in hindsight, better this way. The weight of such a part at that age is enormous. “

Those who have passed this threshold entered the truly serious part of the process: live auditions, acting workshops conducted by the HBO staff and original scripts to be learned by heart. The parents had to sign very armored confidentiality agreements, but Rufo managed to speak anonymously with some families: «Seeing them on the set was exciting. I immediately understood that this series will not be just a remake, but a big, ambitious thing ».

But the enthusiasm was not enough: the more we went on, the more the pressure increased. “At one point our son began to understand that that role could change his life,” said one of the parents. «When it was excluded it was a bit sad, but also raised. I think we dodged a bullet. “

Controversy

There was no lack of controversy. If on the one hand HBO had launched the casting as open to allOn the other hand, it seems that children with an agent have passed directly to the second phase. A small advantage. “We found out that those who were already represented jumped the first skimming,” said Sarah Howlett, mother of another candidate. “It’s not exactly the dream within everyone’s reach.”

McLaughlin, Stanton and Stout – who despite being very young have already experience in the world of entertainment – have still imposed themselves among thousands of faces. And now it’s up to them. Filming will begin in the summer, except for unexpected events. The first season will be inspired by Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone And, as HBO says, the books will faithfully follow. But with some news.

In the cast there will also be well -known names: John Lithgow will be Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer will interpret Minerva McGranitt, Paapa Essiedu will be Severus Ponon And Nick Frost will be Hagrid. JK Rowling figure as an executive manufacturer and had a say on the choice of the screenwriters and the director. A guarantee, but also an element that – given the accusations of transfobia that have overwhelmed it – continues to divide the fandom.

Will it be the beginning of a new Potterian mania era? All that remains is to wait.