Messy Hair, Scarred Forehead, Round Glasses... The TV Harry Potter Revealed

First Still of New 'Harry Potter' Actor Revealed
Set to Premiere on HBO in 2027
About 30,000 Applied for the Open Audition

As production officially begins on the TV series based on the bestselling 'Harry Potter', the production company has unveiled the new face of 'Harry Potter'. On July 14, Yonhap News reported, citing Warner Bros. Discovery's announcement, that production has started on the HBO original 'Harry Potter' series. The series is scheduled to premiere in 2027 on the HBO channel and streaming platform HBO Max.

Actor Dominic MacLoughlin from the TV series 'Harry Potter'. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.

Warner Bros. also released an image of child actor Dominic MacLoughlin in character as the new series' protagonist. In the photo, MacLoughlin sports the iconic lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, a symbol of Harry Potter. He is seen wearing round glasses, a red Gryffindor school uniform, and a cloak, perfectly transforming into Harry Potter. Fans who saw the photo reacted with comments such as, "With the makeup, he really looks like a young Harry Potter," "So cute," and "I'm looking forward to the TV series."

Previously, on May 27, Warner Bros. announced in a statement that "the HBO Harry Potter TV series has cast newcomer MacLoughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley." These actors secured the lead roles after competing against more than 30,000 applicants, following HBO's open casting call that began last fall.

The actors cast as the trio in the TV series are known to have little experience appearing in major productions. MacLoughlin previously appeared in the Sky Channel's new comedy 'Grow', while Stanton played the role of Matilda in 'Matilda: The Musical', which ran in the West End from 2023 through last year. Stout will be taking on his first lead role with this series. The Harry Potter series, written by British author J.K. Rowling, has sold over 450 million copies worldwide since its first publication in 1997, becoming a global bestseller. The work has sparked a worldwide phenomenon and has been adapted into films, stage plays, games, theme parks, and a wide range of related merchandise.