HBO Determined to Make Audiences Think Twice Before Skipping Its 'Harry Potter' Series

A couple of weeks ago, HBO — producing a 10-year series based on the Harry Potter novels — insisted it would continue to welcome feedback from J.K. Rowling on the production. That revelation was largely met with a resigned sigh. The political environment right now is hostile toward trans people, and J.K. Rowling is among the most vocal contributors to that hostility. At the same time, the novels and movies were incredibly meaningful to an entire generation of readers, including many marginalized people who sought refuge in these books and their communities, some of whom are the very people that Rowling is targeting. For those individuals, Rowling’s politics have been a particularly painful slap in the face.

I’d preemptively checked out. I’d read the books; I’d seen the movies. The thought of watching a series for the next ten years held little appeal. What could they possibly do to make this compelling?

They could cast Brett Goldstein as Hagrid, for one.

Well, dammit.

There have been no official casting announcements yet, but according to Deadline, several names are being considered. Goldstein as Hagrid, which is inspired casting, is one of them. Another is Catastrophe and Bad Sisters star Sharon Horgan, who is reportedly being considered — along with Rachel Weisz — for the role of Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

Oscar winner Mark Rylance is apparently in contention for Dumbledore. While that might not excite everyone, Mark Strong—also under consideration—might. Meanwhile, I May Destroy You’s Paapa Essiedu is a seriously intriguing possibility for Severus Snape.

Again, none of this casting is official. These are just lists with names, and there’s no guarantee Brett Goldstein or Sharon Horgan would commit to a series that could monopolize the next decade of their lives. If they do accept, I hope that they speak out against the bigotry of the source material’s author, as the likes of Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson has done before.