It’s less than two months until the debut of season one of the Harry Potter TV series, an eight-episode adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and HBO have today unveiled several new cast members. Leo Bill, Andrew Brooke and Daniel Fearn will play ghosts Nearly Headless Nick, the Bloody Baron and the Fat Friar, respectively, while Laura Smyth will play the Fat Lady, and David Threlfall the voice of the Sorting Hat.
Leo Bill (Nearly Headless Nick)
Leo Bill will play Gryffindor ghost Nearly Headless Nick. The ghost appears across the entire Harry Potter series, though plays a notable part in the second story, Chamber of Secrets. Comedian John Cleese played Nearly Headless Nick in the first two Harry Potter films, though his expanded role was cut from the second film, and his character cut entirely from Azkaban onwards.
Bill’s credits include roles in Gosford Park (2001), 28 Days Later (2002) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
Andrew Brooke (The Bloody Baron)
Andrew Brooke will play Slytherin ghost the Bloody Baron, who has a minor role in the Harry Potter books, and an even smaller blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in the first Harry Potter film. The Baron has a slightly more important narrative role in book seven, with his history revealed through a story told by the Grey Lady. Terence Bayler played the Baron in the first ‘Potter’ film.
Brooke’s credits include roles in Children of Men (2006), Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) and The Mummy (2017).
Daniel Fearn (The Fat Friar)
Daniel Fearn will portray the Fat Friar, the resident Hufflepuff ghost. The most minor of the Hogwarts ghost roles, Simon Fisher-Becker played the Hufflepuff ghost in a fleeting appearance in the first Harry Potter film. Fearn’s credits include Man Vs. Bee (2022), Slow Horses (2025) and Amandaland (2026).
Laura Smyth (The Fat Lady)
Comedian Laura Smyth will play the Fat Lady, the eccentric magical portrait which guards the door to Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady features prominently across the Harry Potter stories, and was played by Elizabeth Spriggs in the first Harry Potter film. Dawn French played the portrait in an expanded (and largely comedic) role in Prisoner of Azkaban.
David Threlfall (The Sorting Hat)
David Threlfall will voice the Sorting Hat, the magical object which sorts students into their Hogwarts houses. Leslie Phillips voiced the Sorting Hat in the first two Harry Potter films, as well as in flashback sequences in Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Threlfall’s credits include a major role as Frank Gallagher in Shameless (2004–2013) (interestingly, his character sings a song in that series, so perhaps we’ll finally see the Sorting Hat sing, as it does in the books). We’ve already had a glimpse at the Sorting Hat in the TV show, which is darker than its film counterpart.
Notably absent from this new wave of casting announcements is Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady and ghost of Ravenclaw house. The Grey Lady appears in passing in the first Harry Potter book, but plays a significant role in the final book, where it is revealed she is the daughter of Ravenclaw founder Rowena Ravenclaw.
It’s been a big week for TV series news: just yesterday we got our first poster promoting the series, and earlier in the week we had casting reveals for Charlie Weasley, and Harry’s parents James and Lily Potter.
The first episode of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
