HBO’sHarry Potteris on the verge of casting its Rubeus Hagrid.Ted Lassostar Brett Goldstein has been among the previously rumored actors being considered for the role inHBO’sHarry Pottershow, whileJohn Lithgow has confirmed that he is playing Albus Dumbledore. Filming for season 1 of the series is set to begin this summer. Hagrid was played by Robbie Coltrane in the eight movies adapting J.K. Rowling’s originalHarry Potterbooks.
According toDeadline,a deal is about to be finalized with Nick Frost to play Hagrid in the upcoming series. The actor and comedian is known for starring in theCornettotrilogy that includesShaun of the Dead,Hot Fuzz, andThe World’s End. He more recently voiced the droid SM-33 in the live-actionStar WarsseriesSkeleton Crew. In addition to Lithgow playing Dumbledore, Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu are reportedly in negotiations to play the respective roles of Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape.
What This Means For HBO’s Harry Potter
Nick Frost Will Be Signing On For The Long Haul
With Hagrid being one of the most importantHarry Pottercharacters, Frost is a key addition to the cast. Since each season is set to adapt a different book in the series, some characters will not be in every season. That will not be the case for Hagrid, who is introduced in the first chapter ofHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and he continues to be integral in all the books that follow. This means that if the deal goes through,Frost should be a series regular in all seven seasons.
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While Hagrid does have his fair share of dramatic moments, he is also a frequently amusing character. Frost’s experience will lend itself well to many ofHagrid’s best and worst moments, and to the comedy that is needed to play the character. His performance as SM-33 inSkeleton Crewis only one of many examples of the stellar voices he can produce, and it will beintriguing to see the voice he settles on to play Hagridin a way that feels distinct, but also authentic to the character.
Our Take On Nick Frost Playing Hagrid
He Is A Promising Choice
It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Coltrane playing Hagrid. He was a defining part of theHarry Pottermovies' castand flawlessly portrayed the lovable character. However,Frost’s experience, particularly in comedy, makes him a promising choice to play Hagrid. After an American actor, Lithgow, was cast as Dumbledore, the show is sticking with a British actor to play Hagrid, although it is important to remember that a deal has not been finalized, and HBO has not officially announced itsHarry Pottercast yet.
