If you’ve ever wished the original Harry Potter movies had included more of the beloved characters from J.K. Rowling’s books, HBO’s upcoming television adaptation may have some exciting surprises in store.
The network just announced three new cast members for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which premieres Christmas 2026, including a member of the Weasley family who never got his moment in the spotlight in the original films.
In an Oct. 27 Instagram announcement, HBO Max revealed that Harry Gilby will play Charlie Weasley, Jasper Talbot will portray James Potter and Hannah Chinn will take on the role of Lily Potter in Season 1 of the HBO Original Series.
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For longtime fans of the books, Charlie Weasley’s casting is particularly exciting. The second-oldest Weasley brother, Charlie works with dragons in Romania and plays a role in several of Harry’s adventures throughout the book series.
But while readers got to know Charlie through Rowling’s novels, moviegoers never really got the chance. Charlie appeared in a Weasley family photograph in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but the character was never portrayed by an actor in an actual scene in the original eight films.
His inclusion in HBO’s adaptation could give fans the opportunity to see a character they’ve only read about finally come to life on screen.
Aidan Monaghan/HBO
The announcement also introduces the actors who will portray Harry Potter’s parents, James and Lily Potter. The couple’s deaths at the hands of Lord Voldemort are central to Harry’s story, and their lives and sacrifices continue to influence events throughout the series.The Weasley family gathers around the table in a scene from HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone series, premiering Christmas 2026.
HBO describes its upcoming Harry Potter series as a faithful adaptation of Rowling’s beloved books, promising a new cast and the return of the magical characters and details fans have loved for more than 25 years.
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Other cast members include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Anticipation for the new adaptation is already high. According to HBO, the trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone received more than 277 million organic views across platforms in its first 48 hours, making it the most-watched trailer in HBO and HBO Max history.
The new Harry Potter series premieres Christmas 2026 on HBO and will stream exclusively on HBO Max.
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