Meet the New Wizarding Trio in HBO Max’s Harry Potter
Minimal hype, maximal potential: HBO Max just dropped the names behind the next-gen Harry, Hermione, and Ron, and it’s stirring up all kinds of wizarding-world chatter. Leading the charge is Lewis McKenzie, a 19-year-old Welsh actor with a string of theater credits from Cardiff to London’s West End. He’ll step into Harry Potter’s iconic shoes in the long-teased streaming reboot. Variety confirmed McKenzie impressed showrunner Jonathan E. Steckler during virtual auditions with “an uncanny Harry-like vulnerability,” per a set visit report published May 25.
Holding her own opposite McKenzie is Millie Harris, 18, tapped for Hermione Granger after her breakout performance in the BBC’s drama Eye of the Gale. TMZ was first to report Harris’s casting on May 27, noting she “brings sharp intellect and a dash of dry wit” that the original films captured so well. According to a Deadline interview, Harris immediately bonded with McKenzie over a Zoom read that featured lines from Sorcerer’s Stone, so chemistry isn’t just CGI trickery here.
Rounding out the trio is Jamie Watson, 20, the newly minted Ron Weasley, discovered via a nationwide talent search. As Deadline reported, Watson beat out 1,200 hopefuls with a mix of genuine awkwardness and fierce loyalty—exactly what every Ron needs. He’s already started sharing on Instagram Stories from the Leavesden studios, teasing quidditch practice montages and tea-by-the-lake scene rehearsals.
Beyond the big three, HBO Max is assembling a UK-heavy supporting cast to anchor this multi-season epic. Producer Emma Lawson told Variety she wants “authenticity at every turn,” from Diagon Alley’s cobblestones to Hogsmeade’s snow dust. Filming is slated to begin July 2025 in Watford and surrounding locales, with the first eight episodes aiming for a late-2026 premiere.
Fans on social streams are split—some swear by nostalgia and others are ready to give these fresh faces “a shot,” as one Redditor put it. The official HarryPotterSeries account already has 500K pre-follow sign-ups, hinting at serious buzz. Even JK Rowling shared a supportive clap-emoji reply when news broke, per her verified Twitter feed, signaling at least one green light from the original universe.
This cast reveal isn’t just a press release—it’s a full-blown casting call for nostalgia fiends and newcomers alike. Stay tuned as more character announcements drop and get ready to judge every wand flick. Anyway, that’s the deal. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Variety, Deadline
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
