HBO’s Harry Potter Casts Its Ghosts, Sorting Hat & Fat Lady On Halloween Eve

David Threlfall, who played Frank Gallagher in the UK’s original Shameless, is voicing the sorting hat in HBO’s Harry Potter, which has revealed cast for the ghosts and fat lady on Halloween eve.

BAFTA-winner Threlfall led the successful British series that spawned a hit Showtime version led by William H. Macy. He will voice the famous hat, which decides the houses Hogwarts students are divided into.

Meanwhile, Leo Bill will play Nearly Headless Nick, Andrew Brooke is the Bloody Baron and Daniel Fearn is the Fat Friar. These notorious ghosts appear in The Philosopher’s Stone alongside the Fat Lady, who, if given the correct password, lets the Gryffindors into their lodgings. The Fat Lady will be played by Laura Smyth.

Casting for Harry Potter has continued to be unveiled as Christmas launch date moves closer and even some Season 2 cast has started to be announced.

Season 1 cast so far is Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch, Bríd Brennan as Poppy Pomfrey, Leigh Gill as Griphook, Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander, Harry Gilby as Charlie Weasley, Jasper Talbot as James Potter, and Hannah Chinn as Lily Potter.

Based on J.K. Rowling’s books, the series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, David Heyman of Heyday Films, Laura Neal, and Jon Brown.