Harry Potter HBO Series Will Have “Diverse Casting"

Casting has begun for HBO’s new Harry Potter series as the search kicks off to find the next Harry, Ron and Hermione.

According to HBO’s casting call ,the search is fully open, with anyone welcome to try out for a role. “We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting,” the statement reads. “For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”

That said, obviously HBO are looking for children, specifically those who will be between the ages of 9-11 as of April 2025. Given the series will be shot in the UK, they also ask that the prospective cast members be residents of the UK and Ireland.

To apply, actors must submit a one-minute video of themselves reciting a short story and describing any family member, friend or pet they are particularly close to. Interestingly, it asks them not to recite anything from Harry Potter , presumably to mark a tonal departure from the films and offer something not seen before.

“Please prepare a short poem or story of your choosing,” continues the casting call. “It can be from your favourite book, a poem that you love, a monologue from a play or something you’ve created yourself. Please, nothing from ‘ Harry Potter ’. Please use your own accent. 30 seconds maximum!”

The show, which doesn’t yet have an official title, is slated to run for seven seasons. Each one adapts one book in J.K. Rowling’s series.The Harry Potter HBO Max series doesn’t involve franchise directo r, with David Yates saying “I have other projects on my desk which are a million miles away from wizards.”

There is no release date yet for the show, but Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said on this year’s February earnings call it’s targeting a 2026 release date, and will film in the UK between 2025-2026. The submission deadline for actors to send in their videos is October 31, 2024.