Today brings our first look at Nick Frost as Hagrid in HBO’s new Harry Potter TV series.
The Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz star is pictured in a behind-the-scenes photo taken at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, UK, where production officially began this week.
As with our first look at the young actor now playing Harry Potter in costume, released yesterday, Hagrid is immediately recognisable. Frost’s face can be seen peering out from behind the Hogwarts groundskeeper’s trademark beard and long hair, extremely similar to the version of Hagrid portrayed by the late Robbie Coltrane in the Harry Potter movies.
Yesterday’s announcement by HBO that filming had begun also brought with it a cluster of additional casting details, including young actors Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom and Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley. Sherlock actress Louise Brealey will be the series’ Quidditch teacher Madam Rolanda Hooch, while Game of Thrones’ Anton Lesser portrays legendary wandmaker Garrick Ollivander.
Previously-confirmed cast members include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essidu as Severus Snape, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.
The beginning of filming this week marks the start of a mammoth production by HBO that is expected to run for at least seven seasons, with each of the seven Harry Potter books turned into an individual year of television.
Frost previously offered his first thoughts on playing Hagrid, and said he felt a need to not just copy what had come before.
“While I’m really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie [Coltrane]’s amazing performance, I’m never going to try and be Robbie,” Frost told Collider. “I’m going to try and do something, not ‘different,'” he contiuned, “I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there’s scope for minutia.”
“I always read Hagrid as he’s like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child,” Frost continued. “I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can’t wait. He’s funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That’s what I’m planning on doing.”
The Harry Potter TV series is expected to debut on HBO in 2027.
Image credit: Aidan Monaghan/HBO.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
