HBO’s Harry Potter Remake Gave One Star The Ultimate Full-Circle Career Moment

Published Oct 16, 2026, 11:52 AM EDT

Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour.

One of the stars of the upcoming Harry Potter TV show revealed what he saw on the set that gave him a major full-circle career moment.

There are less than three months until Harry Potter premieres on HBO, with Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton stepping into the roles Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson first brought to life on screen 25 years ago. The series will be able to explore the books far more in depth than the movies were ever able to.

Harry Potter season 2 is currently in production, with Rafe Spall recently being cast as Ron Weasley's father, Arthur Weasley. The actor told Deadline that he's been really impressed by the production value on the set. He's been a part of blockbuster films before, like Prometheus and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, "but I've never seen sets like these."

Hair and makeup designer Cate Hall is "extraordinary," and Spall has never felt "so excited" coming out of costume fittings after wearing outfits created by Holly Waddington, the Oscar-winning costume designer behind Poor Things.

"I was around true genius—a costume designer who just blows my mind," he said, noting that, despite the pressure that comes with being part of a franchise like this, he's enjoying the experience instead of feeling nervous.

Aside from the high production value and the impressive costumes, Spall experienced a full-circle moment while on the set. If his last name sounds familiar, that's because his father is Timothy Spall, the actor who played Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail in several of the Harry Potter films.

Pettigrew betrayed Harry Potter's parents, James and Lily Potter, and was the reason Sirius Black went to prison for a crime he didn't commit. The character is able to turn into a rat because he's an Animagus, and he hides out as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, for years.

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The other day on the set of the Harry Potter TV show, Rafe Spall saw Scabbers. "I took a photograph next to it," he said. "If I had social media, I would post it." It was almost like an out-of-body experience for the actor because "my dad played Ron's rat and now I'm playing Arthur Weasley."

Rafe Spall: "I’ve never seen production values like it. I’ve been lucky enough to do things such as Prometheus and Jurassic World, big franchise projects, but I’ve never seen sets like these. Cate Hall, who does the hair and makeup and worked on The Crown, is extraordinary. Holly Waddington, who won an Oscar for Poor Things, is doing the costumes. I’ve never come out of costume fittings feeling so excited. I was around true genius — a costume designer who just blows my mind. So I’m not nervous about it. I’m just really enjoying it. It’s funny that my dad played Ron’s rat and now I’m playing Arthur Weasley. The other day I was on set and Ron’s rat was there. I took a photograph next to it. If I had social media, I would post it."

During the interview, Spall also revealed that he recently filmed Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing at Flourish and Blotts from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a scene that features not just his and Katherine Parkinson's characters, Arthur and Molly Weasley, but also Johnny Flynn's Lucius Malfoy and Kit Harington's Lockhart.

"It was just fun," he explained, adding that Parkinson is "one of the best actors in the world. She's phenomenal."

Rafe Spall: "I’m just feeling really lucky to be part of something full of amazingly creative, brilliant people, all working at the top of their game. There are fabulous actors involved. Katherine Parkinson and I play the Weasley parents, and to my mind, she’s one of the best actors in the world. She’s phenomenal. The other day it was me, her, Kit Harington and Johnny Flynn. It was just fun."

Other cast members in the series include John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Rory Wilmot, Lox Pratt, Warwick Davis, Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley. Lenny Rush, Billy Barratt, Molly Hewitt-Richards and Jasper Ambrose are joining them for season 2.

The first season, which debuts on Christmas Day and adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, centers on Harry as he discovers he's a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along the way, he learns about his past and works with friends Ron and Hermione Granger to prevent the Philosopher's Stone from getting into the wrong hands.

Spall won't be seen on screen until season 2, when Chamber of Secrets is adapted. As filming is still ongoing for that, a premiere date hasn't been announced.

Harry Potter season 1 premieres Friday, December 25, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.

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  Dominic McLaughlin

  Harry Potter

• Arabella Stanton

  Hermione Granger

• Alastair Stout

  Ron Weasley

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  Janet McTeer

  Minerva McGonagall

Harry Potter is HBO's adatation of the iconic Wizarding World book series tby J.K. Rowling. The first season, The Philosopher's Stone, follows the titular Harry Potter as he discovers his magical potential, enrolls at Hogwarts, and begins to uncover a sinister force.