It seems that the upcoming Harry Potter series has cast Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Frost will portray Hagrid, who is the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and a gamekeeper who becomes a loyal friend to Harry Potter. He is one of the most cherished characters among fans of J.K. Rowling’s works.
Deadline reports that Frost is expected to take on this role in the new Harry Potter series being developed by HBO.
### Transitioning from Shaun of the Dead to Hogwarts
Frost is reportedly close to finalizing his deal with HBO for the role of Hagrid, following his collaborations with Simon Pegg in well-known films like the Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End) and the comedy Paul.
Though he is set to appear in a live-action Dragon remake, this won’t be Frost’s first notable character; he has previously played Santa Claus in Doctor Who and appeared in Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Additionally, he has a history with the Harry Potter franchise, having acted alongside former star Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) in the comedy series Sick Note.
If the Deadline report is accurate (HBO is still confirming the cast for the series), Frost should have no trouble stepping into the role of Hagrid, a character previously brought to life by Robbie Coltrane in the eight Harry Potter films released from 2001 to 2011. He joins a cast that also includes John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, and Paapa Essiedu.
Speculation surrounding Frost’s casting has been circulating for about a week, fueled by his enigmatic posts on Instagram and interactions with Essiedu and Lithgow on social media. Fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation, as this casting could be one of the most thrilling announcements for the Harry Potter series, which aims to be a “faithful adaptation” of Rowling’s novels about a bespectacled young wizard.
For reference, the series is planned to span approximately a decade, with each book in the Harry Potter saga being covered. Francesca Gardiner serves as the writer and showrunner, while Mark Myriad is the director and executive producer. Filming for Season 1 is set to start this summer, with expected streaming releases in late 2026 or early 2027.
