Warwick Davis to return to ‘Harry Potter’ for new HBO series
Warwick Davis has been confirmed to return to Harry Potter for the upcoming HBO series.
In the original eight movies, Davis played two characters, portraying Charms Professor Filius Flitwick and the goblin banker Griphook. However, he will only play Flitwick in the new series.
Instead, the role of Griphook will be played by Leigh Gill in the forthcoming series, which is set to air in 2027, and is currently in production in the United Kingdom.
Other new casting announcements include Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Sirine Saba as Professor Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden as Professor Cuthbert Binns, and Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey.
Earlier this year, during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Davis gave his backing for the series, saying, “I love the Harry Potter stories [and] the whole concept of what Harry Potter stands for. So to see a new retelling of that story can only be a good thing.”
The reboot has been scrutinised due to JK Rowling’s views on the transgender community, but Davis claimed he was unaware of the situation. “I don’t tend to read the news. It’s kind of one of those things I just don’t do,” the actor said.
“So, I’m kind of out of touch with what’s going on. It’s not really something I’m particularly interested in – producing entertainment is what I do,” Davis added.
The star-studded cast includes Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, and Luke Fallon as Quirinus Quirrell.
Meanwhile, Dominic McLaughlin will play the titular character, Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout is Ron Weasley.
During a recent appearance on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies questioned the need for the new reboot. He said, “I’m seeing these photographs… and (Nick Frost is) wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like: What’s the point?”
The director added, “I thought the costumes and everything were going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same.”
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