HBO’s Harry Potter Series Officially Casts Sorting Hat & 4 Other Iconic Hogwarts Characters

Published Oct 30, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT

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HBO's Harry Potter series just revealed the spookiest new additions to its cast.

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter revival series has announced five new actors joining its growing lineup. The network revealed who will portray some of Hogwarts' most famous supernatural residents and the franchise's most iconic magical artifact to life. The latest casting update includes several beloved characters from J.K. Rowling's original books, including the Sorting Hat, Nearly Headless Nick, The Bloody Baron, The Fat Friar, and the Fat Lady.

According to a new press release from HBO, the ghosts of Hogwarts will be played by Leo Bill (Nearly Headless Nick), Andrew Brooke (Bloody Baron), and Daniel Fearn (Fat Friar). The guardian portrait of Gryffindor's common room, the Fat Lady, will be portrayed by Laura Smyth. And David Threlfall will be the voice of the iconic Sorting Hat. All five actors will appear in the first season of the reboot, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

The announcement continues to expand the cast of HBO's highly anticipated adaptation, which will introduce a new generation of actors to the Wizarding World. Dominic McLaughlin leads the series as Harry Potter, alongside Arabella Stanton, who will take on the role of Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout, who will portray Ron Weasley. The three stars will be joined by John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape), and Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid).

The latest update confirms several characters who weren't prominently featured in the original Harry Potter films. Although the ghosts and enchanted portraits did occasionally get a few lines in the movie adaptations, they were rarely ever important elements of the main storyline, and served more as set pieces instead, helping the films create a magical atmosphere.

Maëva Demurger

Bill's Nearly Headless Nick, whose full name is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, is the resident ghost of Gryffindor House. Known for his friendly personality and his almost severed head, Nick is one of the first ghosts Harry encounters at Hogwarts. The character was previously portrayed by John Cleese in the original films.

Ben Wilkin

The Bloody Baron (Brooke) is the Slytherin ghost. Unlike the usually approachable Nearly Headless Nick, the Baron is an intimidating force at Hogwarts. His mysterious appearance and bloodstained clothing set him apart from the other ghosts haunting the castle.

Brandon Bishop

Meanwhile, Fearn's Fat Friar is the ghost representing Hufflepuff. The character is known for his welcoming attitude toward the students. Although he appeared briefly in the original Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone film, he was not a major part of the movie franchise.

Actors Headshots London

Fat Lady, who will be portrayed by Smyth, is another important addition to the cast. Unlike the other characters in the announcement, she is not a ghost. She is a figure in an enchanted portrait who guards the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. Students must provide the correct password before she will allow them into their common room. Elizabeth Spriggs originally played the character in the first Harry Potter film. Dawn French took over the role in 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

The most recognizable addition is the Sorting Hat, who Threlfall will lend his voice to. The enchanted hat is responsible for assigning incoming Hogwarts students to their houses (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff) based on their personalities and qualities. It plays a very important role during Harry's first year.

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  Dominic McLaughlin

  Harry Potter

• Arabella Stanton

  Hermione Granger

• Alastair Stout

  Ron Weasley

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  Janet McTeer

  Minerva McGonagall