Summary
HBO’s Harry Potter TV show can take inspiration from Netflix’s casting in one of its original series in order to pay homage to the original stars. The original Harry Potter cast can be creatively used in the TV show, placing the actors in all-new roles that longtime fans will appreciate. While the return of familiar faces can be a selling point, HBO should be careful not to overshadow the new cast members.
HBO should follow Netflix’s lead when it comes to casting its Harry Potter TV reboot. The original movie adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s books came to an end in 2011, and its cast members have become synonymous with their respective characters. It’s a huge task for any actor to step into the shoes of such iconic roles, but the Harry Potter TV reboot makes this inevitable. Good casting choices are one way the TV show can prove itself and correct the Harry Potter movies’ mistakes.
Casting the Harry Potter show in general is set to be a process full of difficult decisions. The focus will surely fall on whoever has to follow Daniel Radcliffe in the titular role, but the series will also need a new Ron and Hermione, along with a whole roster of students and professors whose names are associated with other actors. However, HBO can let the franchise’s history guide its hand at least a little when it comes to finding the actors it requires. It certainly wouldn’t be the first studio to do so.
HBO’s Harry Potter TV Show Must Copy Wednesday’s Christina Ricci Casting Trick
The Original Harry Potter Cast Could Return In New Roles
For many years, Christina Ricci came to mind whenever the character Wednesday Addams was mentioned. Ricci played the role back in 1991’s The Addams Family and 1993’s The Addams Family Values, and her iteration of the character became an instant fan-favorite. When Netflix’s Wednesday began casting, there was no doubt that Ricci had aged out of being able to play the title character. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be involved at all, as fans were thrilled to discover.
The Tim Burton show included Ricci once more in the franchise that made her famous. Ricci played Mrs. Thornhill, surprising fans by assuming the role of Wednesday season 1’s villain. Having Ricci perform opposite Jenna Ortega was a great way of honoring her run as Wednesday Addams. HBO could use the same technique when casting its side characters for the Harry Potter show, bringing back familiar faces to play all-new roles.
Related Wednesday Nearly Didn’t Include Christina Ricci, Reveals Netflix Show Creators Netflix’s Wednesday creators reveal that season 1 nearly didn’t include the former Addams Family star, Christina Ricci, and how they resolved it.
Harry Potter’s Original Movie Cast Could Be Used In Creative Ways
It Would Be Fun To See The Actors Try Something New
Following in the footsteps of Netflix’s Wednesday, the original Harry Potter cast could be assigned roles other than the ones they’re already associated with. For instance, Daniel Radcliffe could be used in HBO’s Harry Potter flashback scenes to portray James Potter, Harry’s father. Similarly, Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the movies, could be cast as Lily opposite her former castmate. Moves such as these could serve as a meta foreshadowing of Harry and Ginny ending up together, as they do in both the books and the movies.
The original cast could also appear within the present-day timeline of the show. Emma Watson’s return to the franchise as a professor is just one example of how this could be achieved. Watson’s appearance on the show could involve a portrayal of a staff member, such as Professor Trelawney, or she could play against-type as the cruel Dolores Umbridge. There are many possibilities for how a feat like this could be achieved, and cameos such as these would be a welcome surprise for Harry Potter fans.
The Harry Potter TV Show Must Be Careful Not To Overshadow Its New Cast
The Incoming Actors Deserve The Spotlight
Although the return of certain cast members could be a big selling point for the show, such a strategy must be approached with caution. The presence of established franchise stars could pull the attention away from the actors who are new to the Harry Potter franchise. This would be unfair to the incoming stars, and it could even detract from the larger story due to viewers’ focus being pulled to the familiar faces. It will already be difficult enough to make audiences comfortable with new actors in these well-known roles. It’s a fine line between honoring the original Harry Potter cast and drawing too much attention to an already-jarring change.
If HBO does make use of this casting trick, it must be done tastefully and sparingly. Although the movies are treasured by many, the TV show is a fresh start and a chance to bring in a new generation of Harry Potter fans. That doesn’t mean that the actors who helped the franchise grow can’t make an appearance in the upcoming series. However, the situation needs to be handled with care. The new stars must be given space to shine and put their own spins on these iconic Wizarding World characters.
Harry Potter
Genres: Array
Seasons: 1
Story By: JK Rowling
Streaming Service(s): Array
Franchise(s): Array