Nick Frost is reportedly in discussions to portray the significant character Rubeus Hagrid in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television series. As per Deadline, the 52-year-old actor and comedian from Dagenham is in negotiations alongside John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, and Paapa Essiedu for the roles of Professors Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape, respectively.
This new TV adaptation, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy series, is planned to span seven seasons over a decade, focusing on the young boy who learns about his parents’ wizarding heritage and attends a special school to develop his abilities.
Previously, there were eight films released from 2001 to 2011, and expectations for this series are quite high. The character Hagrid was famously played by the late Robbie Coltrane, noted for being Hogwarts’ kind-hearted gamekeeper and a professor of magical creatures.
Online discussions on platforms like Reddit speculate about Frost’s potential role, especially following a cryptic Instagram post he made on March 20. Fans also pointed out that Frost has started following potential cast members Lithgow and Essiedu.
HBO has not commented on the situation, only stating, “We are grateful that such a high-profile series will generate rumors and speculation. As we move through pre-production, we will only confirm details once the deals are finalized.”
Filming for the series is set to begin this summer, but fans will have to wait until 2026 or 2027 for it to air. There is still an ongoing search for three child actors to play Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with casting notes indicating that applicants must be between 9 and 11 years old as of April 2025. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the original films, was cast at age 11, while Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were cast at ages 10 and 12, respectively.
