Fresh footage from HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series has revealed Game of Thrones star Anton Lesser as master wandmaker Garrick Ollivander.
A veteran British actor with credits in over 100 movies and TV shows, Lesser played Qyburn in Game of Thrones, Harold Macmillan in The Crown, and more recently starred in hit Star Wars series Andor as ISB chief Major Partagaz.
In HBO’s new Harry Potter adaptation, Lesser takes on the notable role of Ollivander, who gives the young wizard his wand — and returns much later in the saga’s storyline to provide key information during Harry’s hunt for the Deathly Hallows.
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HBO’s trailer of upcoming series also shows clips from House of the Dragon, The Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Saves the Universe, Lanterns, The Gilded Age and more. You can skip to the Harry Potter section in the HBO trailer above at the 1:15 mark.
“Mr. Potter, I think we can expect great things from you,” Ollivander says, replicating an iconic line from the original books. “Let’s see who you are.” Other quick shots show Harry and his pals at Hogwarts, in scenes previously shown in an earlier trailer, as the students walk the castle’s halls and then head out for a Quidditch match.
The character of Ollivander was previously played by the late John Hurt, who appeared in three movies over the course of the Harry Potter film series.
Writing is now underway on HBO’s second Harry Potter TV season, with filming set to begin later this year as producers seek to keep the mammoth production going as fast possible — even as fans fear the show won’t finish airing until the early 2040s.
A recent major set leak gave fans a detailed look at the new Diagon Alley, while HBO has admitted the company is spending big on the show, and making a level of financial investment it normally wouldn’t make. The lavish sets and props have proven attractive to thieves, however — something that has now led to items like broomsticks being microchipped to deter thefts.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
