This is about 13 minutes of the podcast I’ve decided to start. Although I feel really confident in most of my editing skills, I really need to work on confidence in front of the mic.

As some of you know, I’ve been working in podcast editing for a while now and I’ve been afraid to start my own show because I’m definitely more of a “behind the camera” person; but I figured, what’s the harm in doing something you love for fun? None. So here’s me taking a leap and sharing what I’ve got so far on Potterology, a Harry Potter biography podcast. 

Even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan, I would be so appreciative if you would take a listen, because I would love to have some feedback going forward. All comments and criticisms are encouraged and appreciated!

Throughout this Twilight Zone episode of a semester, I’ve surprisingly gained a ton of creative inspiration from unlikely places. The COVID-19 crisis forced all of us underground, therefore I had to get as innovative as possible in order to maintain productivity over the lockdown.

The most site views I have gotten have occurred during the beginning of the pandemic, as more people began to stay online for longer periods of time. My blog has been viewed across three continents, which illustrates how the combined interests of nostalgic longing for fictional places such as Hogwarts transcends continental borders during a time of global crisis. People need an escape and respite from our current situation, so I thought I would showcase some ideas that take people to new places and allow them to “enter a world that is entirely of [their] own.”

As far as improvement goes, I think there are some design issues that could be resolved with a few of the CSS tricks I learned during the coding section of my Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media class. I also should use sans serif because people don’t want to look at ugly icky ugly font.

Though I was successful in gaining a following on the blog via Facebook, I also have found success in my interactions on Twitter. I noticed a significant change in activity during the times in which I mainly promoted on Twitter.

My favorite experience over this semester long project has definitely been the upkeep of my blog / portfolio. I learned a ton of useful information that ended up getting me a volunteer position with The Cinema Spot as an editorial journalist. Though I lost my connection / internship with ESPN through Texas State due to the pandemic, I did gain a substantial amount of free time that I took advantage of in order to spread my creative wings. If I had to be specific on a series of posts I found particularly enjoyable to write, it would be the recasting of the Harry Potter series. This is a series of posts I plan to continue beyond the class I originally created this blog for.

I got particular personal satisfaction from hearing what my family and friends had to say about my casting choices for a Harry Potter TV reboot in the 2020s / 2030s. The most popular posts on my blog were my posts over the casting choices for different Harry Potter TV seasons. Each season corresponds to a different book in the series, which I noticed kept some friends of mine wondering about whom I would cast in each particular role.

The main insight I gained from this semester long project was that in times of crisis, everyone could use an escape. I hope my blog has served / will serve as a beacon of discussion, opinion and togetherness throughout these uncertain times.

Though my time in #FDOM20 is technically over, my time on this blog is merrily beginning! I have lists of different actors / actresses whom I would love to see bring the Wizarding World to life, and I’m not finished with this series / blog yet!

I want to thank y’all for your support by reading my content over the past few months, and I hope that you will all continue to follow my posts in the future. I hope you are all staying sane and staying safe! 🙂

The Wizarding World Holds its ground in the fight against COVID-19.

Healers of all ages and rank run frantically up and down the halls of St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, securing light blue masks to their faces. Family members are learning of the deaths of their loved ones via patronus, rather than being at the hospital themselves.

The coronavirus pandemic has skyrocketed in the Wizarding World at an alarming rate, with deaths ranging in the millions across the global community. Hospital beds across both the Wizarding and Muggle communities are being filled to maximum capacity, and healers and doctors are lost on what to do next.

In opening the barrier between the Wizarding and Muggle worlds, there will be a large increase in the use of Muggle medical treatments in the hope of finding a cure for the virus.

“Obviously with a global pandemic that has stopped the world for months on end, we are open to trying anything,” Head Healer Poppy Pomfrey of St. Mungo’s Hospital said. “We have even begun experimenting with the mixture of Muggle remedies with healing potions.”

The Ministry of Magic has urged the Alchemist Guild of England to attempt the combination of Muggle and Wizarding healing remedies, in an effort to find a cure that could lead to a vaccine.

“It is a very promising idea,” Pomfrey said. “In fact, I think that combining potions with Muggle medicine is the secret link we have all been missing.”

In the past few months, the Wizarding community has made great strides in extending its wands to the Muggle world. For instance, Healers and “doctors,” as they are known in the Muggle community, have made contact for the very first time. The Muggle medical community was – understandably – quite surprised to learn of the Wizarding World alone, however, they were receptive and even excited at the prospect of combining medical practices.

“This union is historic,” Pomfrey said. “And with a bit of luck and teamwork we may be able to… well, save the world!”

While the Healers, doctors and nurses fight COVID-19 on the front lines, Wizards around the world have been taking their own precautions against the virus.

Hogwarts Herbology professor Neville Longbottom has found a rather innovative way to help others combat the pandemic. By combining Phoenix tears with Flobberworm mucus and Essence of Dittany, Professor Longbottom has created a room spray that has been proven to disinfect the air.

Molly Weasley of Ottery St. Catchpole has busied herself during quarantine putting together new face masks, which are sewn together using thread enchanted with healing spells. They are available in all sizes, and they even come with the scent of your choice.

While some are getting creative, others may not know where to begin on protecting themselves during the era of social distancing. If you must make a trip outside, be sure to wear a face mask. If you do not have one, consult a nearby Muggle pharmacy. Some witches and wizards feel safer adding a protective enchantment or two around themselves and their homes.

There are many ways you can protect yourself and your family, however the easiest way to do so is to stay at home. In the spirit of staying at home, witches and wizards across the globe have picked up new “at home” hobbies such as backyard Quidditch and Gnome Toss (videos of which can be found on Stupefy Magazine’s social media).

On what has felt like our last thread, there has been a major spark of hope that seems to have brought the Wizarding World back to life.

“It feels as though the tides are beginning to turn,” Minister of Magic Hermione Granger said. “If we all continue to follow stay-at-home procedures and support the experts handling the pandemic on the front lines in hospitals, I fully believe we will come out of this stronger than ever.”

St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries is available via Floo Network for any witch or wizard experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

For over 400 years, the Wizarding World has lived underground out of fear for the safety of its community. Throughout all of that time, there have only been whispers of the reunion of the Wizarding and Muggle worlds; however in the 2020s, everything has changed. Minister of Magic Hermione Granger has been working closely with the Prime Minister of Britain in order to break down the nearly 500 year old barriers between our worlds.

“Wizard vs Muggle does not matter anymore. All of humanity is facing a truly devastating and unprecedented tragedy, and it is not in our nature as wizards to stand idly by as thousands die,” the Minister of Magic said.

The International Statute of Secrecy (the law that sent all of the Wizarding World into permanent hiding) was signed in the 1600s as retaliation against the non-magical community for the violence inflicted on the Wizarding community during the era of witch burning across the world.

“Muggles do not commit those atrocities anymore, they haven’t for nearly half of a millenia. If you look into Muggle history, they have only grown in tolerance and acceptance, and they are overall a good-hearted population. Now they need help as much as we do, and there is no valid reason to be afraid of them,” The Minister continued.

Minister Granger’s point is valid: the Muggle community has almost completely turned itself around. The Salem Witch Trials took place in the 1600s, then Muggles moved their fixation to enslaving African people and trading them across countries. The 1700s and 1800s were quite dark in the Muggle world: France, England, the United States and many others were at war, and the slave trade was what kept the world’s economy afloat. In the 1800s, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and several other world leaders fought against slavery, however it wasn’t until the American Civil War that the world began to truly shut its doors on the issue.

By the early 1900s, the post-slavery world seemed to have turned over – which meant that the terms of the International Statute of Secrecy were considered to be in for a rewrite.

“It’s honestly quite unfortunate,” said Seamus Finnegan, Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. “There have been a few times in our combined histories in which we could have all come together, and the 1900s seemed to be full of promise for the future of Wizard-Muggle relations.”

It is true that the governing bodies of the Wizarding World considered lifting the Statute of Secrecy during the turn of the 20th century, however as we all know, the Muggles destroyed that hope once again. World War I and World War II were the first Muggle conflicts that directly involved the Wizarding World. Kaiser Wilhelm and Adolf Hitler targeted the wizarding community, and thousands of witches and wizards were murdered among the millions of victims in both wars.

The early 20th century was the last time the Wizarding World has considered suing for peace with the Muggle World. Nearly 100 years later, with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Wizarding World has suffered a horrendous number of casualties. The total number of deaths around the Wizarding World is almost equal to the death toll among Muggles.

St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries has determined that with the staggering number of deaths in both the magical and non-magical communities, it seems that wizards are not immune to the disease. COVID-19 does not discriminate in whom it infects and kills.

Head Healer Poppy Pomfrey stated that, “we often forget that the Wizarding World is not as large of a population as we believe. In reality, we are the minority. As the Muggle population declines, our population declines ten-fold.”

Experts have confirmed her exact statement to be true; if the Wizarding World is to learn anything from Muggle history, it’s the fact that humanity itself cannot hope to survive if we put up barriers. Historical barriers such as the violent divisions between Muggle religions, races and sexual orientation have only brought chaos, destruction and bloodshed for hundreds of years.

If a Muggle were to look back upon our own history in the Wizarding World, they would see major similarities between our two worlds. We drew a line in the sand in the 17th century, and we have stubbornly fought to deny the truth for centuries: magical or non-magical does not matter, we are all human and we are all in this together.

Therefore, St. Mungo’s Hospital has begun to work with Muggle hospitals across the United Kingdom, and Gringott’s Bank has begun a proposal to open Diagon Alley to Muggles – with proceeds being donated to the British National Health Service.

The Harry Potter Foundation for Lost Witches and Wizards has also been working with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to have the school open its doors to orphaned and abused children of the Muggle community.

“When I was a little boy, Hogwarts was the first place that felt like home,” Harry Potter said. “I want to bring the kids with no school or anything to escape their bad environments, to the place that brought me out from the cupboard under the stairs and into a world of something they’ve always hoped for: magic and hope.”

For those who don’t know which house they belong in, here’s a little bit of guidance!

In the realm of film and television blogs, there really isn’t a true competitor for the popular blog, Film School Rejects. Rejects features a wide variety of articles, videos and podcasts that cover a vast expanse of film / television genres. Whether you are a fan of Game of Thrones or Dirty Dancing, there will almost certainly be an article for you.

One of the biggest staples of Rejects is a section of the blog titled “One Perfect Shot.” The thing that makes this particular part of the blog stand out is the fact that it is a gallery of “one perfect shot” from just about every iconic film you can think of!

On the right hand side of the screen, you can see that there are options to look up the works of different directors and cinematographers. This is a really interesting feature, because if you needed to do some kind of research on the styles of different directors / cinematographers, this blog makes that a very easy thing for you to do!

Apart from unique pages such as One Perfect Shot, Film School Rejects is a beast of content for the film lover of any passion level. Whether you are more of a TV fan, a movie fan — or even if you just have an interest in film — this blog is the right fit for you, because there is truly something in it for everybody!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I don’t know what it is about this one, but it is my absolute favorite of all of the movies. I also know that I’m not alone in this, as several other people have claimed this one as their own personal favorite as well. Perhaps it is Alfonso Cuaron’s directorial presence that shifted the tonal balance of the series completely, or John Williams’ sudden heel-turn of a score. Whatever the case, the tone of this film is dark – much darker than the previous two – which is exactly what needed to happen at this point in the story.

This film is shrouded in uncertainty, mystery, angst and drama, and it gives off the same feeling that one might feel in the last quarter of an NFL game – the feeling that we are leading up to something big, we just aren’t sure what it is yet. That is the exact feeling viewers SHOULD have during this particular season in the series, and that is what I’m going to try and emulate with my casting choices below!

Cornelius Fudge: Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo Esposito is a lot like Ben Mendelsohn, whom I chose to play Lucius Malfoy. In every role I’ve seen him in, Esposito has an eerily calm demeanor while acting as some kind of enforcer or lawman. This is something that I personally feel the original performance of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was lacking.

The original portrayal of Fudge was almost cartoonish, which makes sense given that this is a story told from the perspective of a newly 13 year old boy; however, this is not the tone we’re going for with an HBO reboot. Throughout the rest of the series, Cornelius Fudge will slowly become an arch enemy of Professor Dumbledore and Harry, and I think that we need somebody wholly intimidating. As an actor, Giancarlo Esposito is a really interesting person to watch, and I would be very excited to see the kind of chilling edge he could bring to the character.

Professor Lupin: Richard Madden

Professor Lupin is one of the most important characters in the series, and he is also one of the most beloved characters as well. As the first real connection that Harry has with his parents, Richard Madden will have quite a job to undertake – but I think he is the perfect person for that job.

I gave this one a lot of thought and debated whether or not to actually put Sam Rockwell here, but in the end, I decided that I was allowed to be picky and choose actors who actually fit the ages of their characters. Professor Lupin was one of James Potter’s best friends growing up, and through his relationship with Harry, he is able to provide him with a window into his father’s life. At this point in the story, he is the same age as Professor Snape (Adam Driver in my previous casting list), so I thought it would only make sense to choose a great actor who is around Driver’s age.

Richard Madden is best known for his work on Game of Thrones (2011), The Bodyguard (2019), and Rocketman (2019). I’ve seen almost his entire filmography at this point, and with his dramatic talent and boyish charm, I think that Madden would be an excellent fit for Harry’s mentor this season.

Professor Trelawney: Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson recently came to my attention after watching Netflix’s original series, Sex Education (2019), because she has a voice that reminds me exactly of Professor Trelawney. As soon as I googled it and figured out that she wasn’t Emma Thompson, I thought she would be perfect to play Trelawney.

Outside of the voice aspect, which is surprisingly important for this role, Gillian Anderson has a unique ability to be effortlessly hilarious. And while Trelawney is definitely a comedic character, she is also quite important even though she doesn’t show up in the series very often. Over the course of the series, Professor Trelawney is revealed to have made prophecies in the past that have altered the course of events, as well as actually predicting a lot of crucial events that occur seasons down the road. Anderson is a talented actress, having worked in both comedy and drama, and I feel that she would be able to bring this smaller character into more prominence.

Sirius Black: Ben Barnes

You may know Ben Barnes as that guy who was abandoned in the desert naked in Westworld (2016), or you may even recognize him as the gallant Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). I first came across Ben Barnes when I saw Westworld, and I was honestly captivated by him every time he was onscreen. Not just because he’s hot (but that definitely is a factor, I’m not going to lie), but because his acting pulled me into his character. Watch this scene from Westworld and tell me that this guy can’t act like a crazy person.

Though Sirius Black is fresh out of Azkaban and a little bit deranged in this particular installment of the series, in the following seasons Sirius becomes Harry’s new parental figure – and the most important person in his life. While Professor Lupin was a friend of Harry’s father, Sirius was truly James’ best friend in the world. Therefore, Ben Barnes would have to do a lot of emotional and heavy acting, which he is more than capable of.

Ben Barnes is also a relatively unknown actor, so I think he would be a refreshing and unpredictable choice for the role of Sirius.

Peter Pettigrew: Paul Dano

Paul Dano is best known for There Will Be Blood (2007), as well as Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Swiss Army Man (2016). He has one of those faces that stick with you, and his performances stick with you just as effectively. Dano is one of the most emotional actors I’ve ever seen, and I think he would be perfect for the role of the spineless and deranged Peter Pettigrew.

Peter Pettigrew is the person who turned Harry’s parents in to Voldemort on the night that they were killed, betraying James Potter as well as Lupin and Sirius. On the night that all is revealed in the third season, Dano would be a really exciting person to see in this role. In the original portrayal, the viewer can see within seconds how insecure and cowardly Pettigrew is as a character. I think it’s important to have a convincing actor in that role because in Pettigrew’s one scene in this season, the audience is made to hate him immediately. Therefore, Paul Dano seems like an exciting choice to play the notorious coward who hid as a rat for 12 years.

Looking ahead: CASTING SEASON FOUR

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite installment in the Harry Potter series, however the series doesn’t become truly dark until the next one. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry comes face to face with Voldemort in the flesh in what becomes the cornerstone of the series. The fourth season’s casting will be exciting due to the scale of the story – with new characters from all over the world, dragons, mermaids and sphinxes!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The second installment in the Harry Potter series brings our heroes into their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While I personally feel that this particular installment is the weakest one in the series – in both the books and the movies – I definitely feel that with my production/crew choices from my first post, this season could be a really strong one. The story is intense, the stakes are higher, and I feel confident that Taika Waititi (my choice of director) would be able to truly encapsulate those aspects of the story – while also remaining faithful to the tone of the previous season.

So with all of that being said, let’s cast HBO’s Harry Potter: Season Two!

Dobby: Dee Bradley Baker

Dobby is the first new character we will see onscreen in the new season. This casting choice was tough, due to the fact that he is a character who is entirely created from CGI. I had to consult my sister who is well versed in the world of voice actors, and she brought up Dee Bradley Baker and his ridiculous talent for creature/character voices.

As you can see from the image of Dee Bradley Baker above, he is surrounded by smaller pictures of the characters he has lent his voice to in the past. I believe that with his skill in being creative with animated / CGI characters, he could bring something totally new and original to Dobby — and he could even bring us to fall in love with the endearing house elf all over again.

Molly Weasley: Catherine Tate

Listen, I know there’s absolutely no way we can replace Julie Walters’ sweet, motherly and adorable portrayal of the matriarch of the Weasley clan.. but we will have to try! I think that Catherine Tate would be an excellent follow up to Walters’ performance throughout the original film series.

Catherine Tate is one of the funniest British comedians of the era, having guest starred on the American version (aka, the best version) of The Office, touring the world doing stand-up, and even starring in her own comedy show on BBC. I think that the one thing that was missing from Julie Walters’ original portrayal of Molly Weasley is the lighter/more comedic side of the character. I think that bringing on such a talented comedian to play Harry’s “surrogate mother” would bring a fresh, new perspective on the character we all know and love.

Another thing that Tate is excellent at is dramatic acting. I have always known her to be a comedic actress who makes me laugh every time I see her onscreen however, I have also seen her be able to carry quite dramatic roles. As an actress, Tate is fantastic – therefore, I feel that she has a HUGE skill set and fresh ideas to bring to Molly Weasley.

Arthur Weasley: Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell is one of those actors who makes my heart hurt every time I see him on the screen. With his impressive resume of awards and his astounding filmography, Rockwell is a phenomenal actor. So out of a long list of actors I could have chosen for the role of the patriarch of the Weasley clan, Arthur Weasley, why is it that I chose Rockwell? The reason is actually quite simple.

In several of his films, Rockwell plays a truly kind-hearted and fatherly figure to whomever the main character in each film is. He has a warmth about him that really envelops each of his characters, which brings a feeling of safety and security to the viewers as they share the perspective of the main character. For example, check out some of his work in films such as The Way, Way Back (2013) and Jojo Rabbit (2019).

Just like his wife Molly, Arthur Weasley is meant to serve as a “surrogate father” to Harry therefore, having an actor with such a warm and fatherly disposition is essential to the story. Sam Rockwell will be able to remain faithful to the original portrayal of Arthur Weasley by Mark Williams, however I believe that he will be able to leave a deeper emotional imprint on viewers – as that is probably his best skill as an actor.

Lucius Malfoy: Ben Mendelsohn

Lucius Malfoy is one of the “scary” adult characters in the series. As the father of Harry’s school bully, Draco Malfoy, Lucius is a cruel dark wizard who works directly under the main villain of the series, Voldemort. As one of Voldemort’s closest allies, Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous character due to his proximity to Harry, and Lucius as a character notoriously revels in the chance to intimidate and antagonize the boy every chance he has. Lucius makes his slimy, intimidating first appearance in this installment in the series.

Ben Mendelsohn is an Australian actor who is best known for his work on Bloodline (2015), Rogue One (2016), and Ready Player One (2018). In nearly all of his roles, Mendelsohn steals the show with his ability to induce fear and intimidation with his eerily calm demeanor. I think that the ability to portray Lucius Malfoy in this way is extremely important for setting the tone for his character early in the series.

No offense to Jason Isaacs (who originally portrayed the character in the film series), but in the original series, Lucius Malfoy is a somewhat forgettable character and he is honestly sort of a joke. This is a real shame because the original character in the book series is incredibly interesting. I think that with an actor as talented as Ben Mendelsohn in the role, Lucius Malfoy will actually be the character that J.K. Rowling herself originally wrote.

Gilderoy Lockhart: Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau

Gilderoy Lockhart… What to say about Gilderoy Lockhart? He is definitely one of the most memorable characters, for no reason other than the fact that he is incredibly narcissistic and – for lack of a better word – SEVERELY annoying. Lockhart is Harry’s new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who fraudulently became famous for “his” amazing achievements in the wizarding world, and he will not let anybody forget it.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau is a Danish actor who is best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011). The second I saw him when I started that show, I was reminded of Gilderoy Lockhart. In Game of Thrones, Coster-Waldeau’s character goes through a huge amount of character development, however it’s the portrayal of where his character STARTS in that development process that makes this actor perfect. To be frank, Jaime Lannister from the beginning of Game of Thrones is the worst person ever: a blonde, long-haired narcissist, who has sex with his sister and pushes a ten year old boy out of a high window and paralyzes him for life.

So, Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau is definitely well versed in this sort of role, because Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones is exactly like Lockhart — minus the whole incest plotline and the “attempting to murder a child” thing.

Tom Riddle: Timothée Chalamet

The number of actors who are my age (23) and have skyrocketed to global fame and infamy is miniscule, so my list of young and talented actors who could play such a small yet pivotal role in the series was very short. However, Timothée Chalamet would make a perfect “young Voldemort.”

At the end of this season of HBO’s Harry Potter remake, Harry finds himself entrapped by the ghostly version of Voldemort in what is called the Chamber of Secrets. Though this would be a short cameo role, I believe that Chalamet would bring a really interesting perspective to this character.

Timothée Chalamet is probably the best actor around my age, as of 2020. I’ve seen just about all of his movies and I have been so impressed with his ability to be a chameleon and disappear into his roles. When you watch him onscreen, you forget that you are watching Timothée Chalamet, and you are fully enveloped in his character. The original portrayal of Tom Riddle in the film series is… quite theatric and a little cheesy, but imagine putting Chalamet in this role instead.

One role of his that really stood out to me and made me choose him to play this role, is his portrayal of King Henry V in Netflix’s The King (2019). This scene in particular eerily reminded me of the character of Tom Riddle. The way Chalamet emphasizes his words and the way his facial features move is chilling, and I think that if he were given the material to read for Tom Riddle, he would prove to be a truly scary villain for the end of the season.

Looking ahead: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This concludes my casting for the second season of HBO’s Harry Potter television reboot. I hope you all enjoyed reading and find my list interesting! I would definitely like to know who all of you would want to see play these roles, so let me know down in the comments below!

In my next post, we will continue this series with casting the third installment (and my personal favorite) of this hypothetical television series: Season Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Arguably the most important aspect of a hypothetical Harry Potter television reboot is the cast. The cast of this series will be almost entirely responsible for both bringing the world of Harry Potter back to life, and living up to the standards set for them by the original film series.

With that in mind, I will not be casting any of the student / child actor roles. There are a few reasons for this, but my biggest reason is the fact that there is so much undiscovered talent out there in the realm of child actors today. In fact, the most iconic child roles of the 2010s were portrayed by child actors who had never been discovered before. The same goes for the original film series as well; Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were all ages 9-11, and with the exception of a few small roles, none of them had ever hit the limelight. I think that this is incredibly important because we need to have brand new faces to identify with these iconic characters — and I think it’s equally important that we as an audience are able to watch them grow up on screen.

With all of this being said, there is a truly unbelievable amount of talented adult actors and actresses who I think would bring these roles justice. Keep on scrolling to find out who I would love to see bring the wizarding world to the small screen.

Professor Dumbledore: Charles Dance

Charles Dance has a true talent for commanding attention on the screen. In his role as the patriarch of the royal family in Game of Thrones, Dance’s presence on the screen seems to fill up the entire room with every scene his character is featured in. He has a presence onscreen that commands respect – a trait that I personally feel was missing from the original film series – and I feel that with a darker and more intimidating Dumbledore, the feeling of the entire series as a whole will shift toward a darker tone.

Professor McGonagall: Helen Mirren

I know, it feels impossible to replace or even attempt to replicate Maggie Smith’s original portrayal of Professor McGonagall; however, due to factors such as Maggie Smith’s age and health issues, it’s only reasonable to recast the role while remaining faithful to the feel of the original character. Therefore, I chose Helen Mirren to play Professor McGonagall.

My reasoning for this particular casting choice is the simple fact that Mirren – like Maggie Smith in the early 2000s – is regarded as a “classic” actress. As of February 2020, Mirren currently boasts an impressive filmography of 132 film and television appearances – most of which, she starred in. Therefore, she is definitely a seasoned actress in my book, and thus she is more than capable of excelling in a role of this magnitude.

Another major factor in deciding who to cast for Professor McGonagall was the age of the character in the books. In the original Harry Potter book series, the character is described to be about 70 years old… Guess how old Helen Mirren is? 74!

With all of that being said, I believe that Helen Mirren would be an interesting choice to cast as Professor McGonagall. She is an experienced and creative actress, and I would be very curious to see what she could do with this beloved character.

Professor Snape: Adam Driver

What can I say? Adam Driver fits the role of the mysterious, complicated, dark (and misunderstood ??) potions master to a T. First of all, let’s take a look at the description that J.K. Rowling herself provided for us in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone:

Professor Snape was a thin man with sallow skin, and a large, hooked nose. He had shoulder-length black hair which framed his face, and cold, black eyes. He wore black flowing robes which give him the appearance of an overgrown bat.^[58] 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Chapter Eight – The Sorting Hat

I think that if HBO were to put Adam Driver in a black cloak that looks like an “overgrown bat,” he would make an extremely convincing Snape. Having just wrapped up the Star Wars series in December of 2019, Driver has more than enough experience playing a “dark, misunderstood ‘bad guy,'” with his portrayal of the main villain in the new trilogy, Kylo Ren.

While we’re on the topic of staying true to the original character description in the source material, Driver is the perfect age to play Snape. In the first book (which this hypothetical first season would be based on), Snape’s age would be placed at about 35-40. Driver himself is currently 36 years old, which would grant audiences the chance to watch him age perfectly in time with the original character as the show progresses through the span of seven seasons.

And finally, before anyone gets worked up about his acting ability, have you even seen this scene in Marriage Story? Yeah. He deserved that Oscar nomination, and he deserves your trust to break your heart over how much he loved Lily. 😦

Hagrid: Kristofer Hivju

This was an easy one for me, as I have JUST stumbled across Kristofer Hivju this past summer during my six day Game of Thrones binge. I was watching the show for the very first time and I always caught myself laughing at one character in particular — Tormund Giantsbane, Hivju’s character. In GoT, Hivju portrays an outspoken, hilarious, kind-hearted, “rough around the edges” kind of character; and his character reminded me of an extremely vulgar version of Hagrid.

Hivju has many qualities as an actor that pointed me toward casting him as Hagrid: First, he has a unique ability to project his own personality into his roles, which easily establishes him as a lovable / relatable character. Second, he is tall and incredibly hairy, which is obviously a must for Hagrid. Finally, this hypothetical show would be produced by HBO, who are familiar with Hivju’s work and would be able to see the potential he would have to bring something new to another beloved role.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley: Ricky Gervais and Olivia Coleman

It was easy for me to pick an actress to play Aunt Petunia Dursley, because I’ve had my eye on Olivia Coleman for the role ever since her work on The Favourite and season 3 of The Crown. Coleman has striking features, as well as a true sense of creativity which she could use to her advantage in order to create a memorable character. Petunia had a bigger role in the original book series, and with all of the extra time that a TV series would provide for storytelling, I think that Coleman might be able to bring an interesting perspective to Harry’s abusive aunt.

For Uncle Vernon, I had a little bit more trouble. I wanted somebody around Olivia Coleman’s age, and I also wanted somebody who is established in the world of comedy, drama and television. Ricky Gervais is not only an extremely talented and globally famous comedian, but he also has dipped his hand into working in drama as well. In his Netflix series After Life, Gervais stunned audiences with his dramatic and intense portrayal of a man who is contemplating taking his own life. Gervais definitely has a propensity for dramatic acting, as well as the obvious talent he has for comedy – which makes him the perfect choice to play the ever so irritating Uncle Vernon.

Ollivander: Jeremy Irons

Ollivander is a smaller role who only appears a handful of times throughout the series, and there was nobody else who fit the role better in my mind than Jeremy Irons. Irons is a recent HBO alum, having just premiered the new series Watchmen in 2019, and he is one of the finest actors to grace the small screen. Though Ollivander’s role is a small one, it is very imporant, as he is the character who gives Harry his first wand and also exposes new information to him about himself and his destiny.

I think that Jeremy Irons has a very memorable and significant impact as an actor on viewers. People remember his face and his iconic voice, therefore I believe he is the perfect choice to portray a character who is both essential to the story, while also remaining obscure.

Professor Quirrell: Andrew Scott

Honestly nobody can play an unhinged villain like Andrew Scott can. Scott is most widely known for his role as Moriarty in the popular BBC series Sherlock, as well as his role as the priest in Fleabag.

If you have even seen just one clip of his work in Sherlock, then you probably agreed with me immediately on this choice. He can be both charming AND terrifying, which is perfect for the role of “poor stuttering Professor Quirrell.”

Nearly Headless Nick: Ian McElhinney

I was lucky enough to come across Ian McElhinney while bingeing both GoT and Netflix’s Derry Girls. McElhinney would be fun to watch in this small role, because he has made me laugh repeatedly whenever I’ve seen him onscreen. Nearly Headless Nick is a comedic side character and I think that McElhinney could do really funny and interesting things with this role.

Mr. Filch: Terrence Stamp

Mr. Filch is a fan favorite among fans of the original series. He is the silly, strange and somewhat menacing caretaker at Hogwarts and I believe that the person who could do this role justice, while also providing a new take on the character, would be Terrence Stamp.

Stamp creeped me and several other kids out in his role as the butler in The Haunted Mansion, but he also was able to sneak in a somewhat funny aspect to the ghostly character. Stamp would fit the role of Filch very well, as he has the ability to be both terrifying and funny simultaneously.

Voldemort (voice): Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch has ALWAYS been my top choice to play Voldemort in not only the first season, but the entire Harry Potter TV series as a whole. Cumberbatch is truly one of the finest actors of today, and he has a distinct face / voice that would be perfect for the role of Voldemort.

In this first season, Voldemort’s voice will be heard but viewers won’t necessarily get to meet the infamous dark wizard in the flesh until the end of the fourth season. Having an accomplished actor is obviously important to do the role of Voldemort justice, however what is even more important for this flagship season is for that actor to be particularly skilled with voice acting.

Benedict Cumberbatch has lent his voice to several characters over his career, most recently having voiced the menacing dragon Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. As you can see in this clip from The Hobbit, Cumberbatch has a real talent for voice acting – particularly for villainous / malicious characters.

What’s next?

If you made it to the bottom of this post then congratulations! You are a true fan of Harry Potter and you have an abundant amount of trust in the abilities of strangers to make cool lists. To wrap this one up, I would just like to say that these are my own personal opinions on who should play whom in a hypothetical Harry Potter television series. In a series of posts, I’ll be casting every new character who appears in each new season. Each season will be based faithfully on its corresponding book in the series, and I am going to try and be faithful to book descriptions when it comes to casting actors.

In my next post in this series, I will be casting season two of Harry Potter on HBO: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. If you have any of your own ideas for who should play whom in this first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, comment down below! 🙂

Season One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

With the rapidly growing popularity of television and the convenience of several new streaming platforms, we are currently living through an exciting transition in the ways that stories are being told. In 2019, Amazon Prime announced that they would begin work on a Lord of the Ring television reboot; and Star Wars has entered a period of rebirth through the ultra-popular series The Mandalorian (2019) on Disney+. So with all of this energy and momentum being directed toward rebooting popular book / movie series into television shows, where is the love for Harry Potter?

I believe that with the current intensive shift we are experiencing in the world of film and television, there is a high probability that the Harry Potter series will be rebooted into a television show. Now, before all of my fellow Harry Potter readers close this blog, remember all of the times we all sat in the movie theater and experienced small moments of disappointment because, “the book was better?” With a television reboot, studios would be able to go further into the story and develop storylines that were missing from the original films; this would satisfy those who have always loved the books, as well as reopening the wizarding world to a whole new population of fans.

Now for the fun part: building a Harry Potter television series! Ideally, the show would premiere regularly for over roughly a decade – putting the show at a full length of about seven seasons. What are the essential components to a television show? A studio (obviously), directors, screenwriters, score composers, new actors and much more. In this post, I’ll be choosing who I would personally like to see play a part in a potential Harry Potter television series – both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

HARRY POTTER – TV REBOOT

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Season One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

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Studio: HBO

I mean, really? Look at HBO’s original television series, and tell me that they do not produce the highest quality of television that exists today. HBO leads the Emmy nominations with an overwhelming presence at the Awards every year, and they are known for adapting popular fantasy novels into television.

Game of Thrones (2011), was arguably the most popular television series in the world for almost a decade. HBO created an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s popular book series, which brought a tremendous wave of popularity to both Game of Thrones as a franchise, and HBO as a television network. I believe that HBO, with studios all over Europe, would be the only network I would trust with a series as beloved as Harry Potter.

Director: Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi – my personal favorite director – is probably one of the biggest up and coming directors of today. His career has exploded within just the past ten years, from Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and, most recently, Academy Award winning Jojo Rabbit (2019).

Waititi is a quirky director, with a sense of humor unlike any other director today. He is also known for having a true talent for working with child actors. In fact, three out of his total of five films star child actors.

Apart from humor, the new Harry Potter television series must grow darker in tone and more complex as the story develops. Waititi is perfect for this aspect of the series, in that critics have revered him for finding the perfect balance between comedy and drama.

So with all of this being said, Taika Waititi is the perfect director in my mind; He is gifted in working with child actors – which is essential for Harry Potter – he has a unique sense of humor, he is not American (which is important to J.K. Rowling for some reason), and finally, he is able to successfully balance comedy and drama without tonal disruption.

Producers: Bernadette Caulfield and David Heyman

Bernadette Caulfield is one of HBO’s top executive producers, having produced all eight seasons of Game of Thrones. Caulfield has won several Emmy awards for her work in the genres of fantasy and drama, and I believe that she will provide a colorful, detailed and dramatic perspective to the world of Harry Potter.

David Heyman is the first Harry Potter veteran on our list, as he produced all eight of the original Harry Potter films. In fact, he was even the man who cast a then nine year old Daniel Radcliffe as the Boy Who Lived back in 1999.

As a producer, Heyman oversaw the production of the Harry Potter films and even developed a close friendship with the creator of the wizarding world herself, J.K. Rowling. Heyman’s close relationship with the creator of Harry Potter, his 15+ year long career of working in Harry Potter, and his experience in working with child actors and a vast array of different directors will prove to be an essential part of creating the series.

Score: Ramin Djawadi

DO NOT FREAK OUT, WE ARE NOT GETTING RID OF THE ORIGINAL JOHN WILLIAMS THEME!

One of the things Ramin Djawadi is best known for is his ability to compose innovative and unique covers of popular modern day music. For example, in the score for Westworld (2016), Djawadi uses a saloon-style piano to play music from bands like Nirvana and Radiohead. For a new and revamped Harry Potter series, I would expect Djawadi to create his own rendition of John Williams’ classic theme from the original films.

Apart from the main theme, I would be interested to hear other ideas he would have for the score. The original Harry Potter films went through several composers throughout the series’ ten year run, therefore the sound of the series changed quite drastically from film to film. Djawadi has composed music for “long haul” television shows in the past, having won several awards for his work on Game of Thrones (2011), Westworld (2016), and Iron Man (2008); so I believe that he would be the obvious choice as our score composer.

Cinematography: Mihai Malaimare

Mihai Malaimare, The Hate U Give (2018) and Jojo Rabbit (2019), is another up-and-coming filmmaker to watch out for in the new decade. His work on the second feature film of his cinematography career earned him an Oscar nomination in 2020.

The thing that sets Malaimare apart from other cinematographers I’ve seen is the fact that he has a truly unique eye for the art of telling a story from a child’s point of view. When I was a kid, everything looked big to me, including the adults, and everything was bright, colorful and vibrant. Childhood itself is vibrant, colorful and exciting, and the world of Harry Potter is the same! There is also a degree of silliness in the world of Harry Potter – especially in the earlier parts of the story – and Malaimare has a knack for humorous cinematography, having worked with director Taika Waititi in the past.

Again, one of the most important aspects of Harry Potter is the tonal shift that occurs as the story gets darker. Malaimare is incredibly creative in his approach to conveying dramatic / emotional moments in his films. For example, below is a screenshot taken from the second half of Jojo Rabbit. The second half of Jojo Rabbit is dedicated to showing the final moments of World War II as Germany took their last stand against the entire world. With the yellow and orange warm temperature of the GIF above (^^), there is a feeling of safety that comes with the comedic half of the film; while during the dramatic half, that warmth is replaced by cool tones of blue and gray in order to convey darkness and a degree of unrest.

I believe that mastering these tonal shifts, as well as providing the unique eye-level perspective of a child, is essential to creating a new and original version of Harry Potter.

To wrap this thing up, there are obviously a HUGE amount of talented filmmakers out there who could do just as well at rebooting the Harry Potter series into a television show; however, I believe that a dream team behind the camera such as this would be the best hope any network would have of answering the expectations set for them by fans around the world. All of this being said, I truly hope a Harry Potter television series is on some executive’s desk at HBO.

In my next post, I’ll begin creating my dream cast for this hypothetical series. I will write a post for each season of the show (7 in total, one for every book in the series), and show you guys which actors I think should appear in a Harry Potter television series.

Thank you guys for reading, I hope you all think that a Harry Potter television series would be exciting. If you have any other ideas for the positions listed above, let me know down in the comments below! 🙂