Our first look at HBO’s new Harry Potter actor in costume has been released, as filming begins on the series.
A behind-the-scenes production photo, published today, shows 11-year-old actor Dominic McLaughlin dressed in familiar Hogwarts attire, scar visible on his foreheard.
The young actor can be seen holding the first slate for the Harry Potter HBO series that also lists the show’s director Mark Mylod and director of photography Adriano Goldman, alongside today’s date: July 14, 2025.
Today’s announcement by HBO also brings with it a cluster of additional casting details, including young actors Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom and Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley.
Sherlock actress Louise Brealey is the series’ new quidditch teacher Madam Rolanda Hooch, while Game of Thrones’ Anton Lesser will portray legendary wandmaker Garrick Ollivander. In Sherlock, Brealey played morgue doctor Molly Hooper. In Game of Thrones, Lesser played the villainous Qyburn.
Previously-confirmed cast members include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essidu as Severus Snape and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.
The beginning of filming today marks the start of a mammoth production that will run through the rest of this decade and beyond, as HBO plots to turn each of the seven Harry Potter books into an individual season of television.
Last week, Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs hit out at “rude” criticism surrounding the casting of Black actor Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation.
The Harry Potter TV series is expected to debut on HBO either late 2026 or early 2027.
Image credit: Aidan Monaghan/HBO
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
