The casting for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot series has been incredibly divisive so far. Some have turned against actors like Paapa Essiedu (who will play Snape) and even child actress Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger) for senseless and bigoted reasons. Other fans have slightly more justified and logical criticisms of the casting choices so far. But, one actor who every fan agrees is a perfect fit for their role is Hot Fuzz and Paul star, Nick Frost​​​​​​. The actor will portray Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper and groundskeeper of Hogwarts School. It’s ironic that this is the casting choice fans have positively latched onto, considering how beloved Robbie Coltrane’s performance in the original movies was. But, Frost said he wants his version of Hagrid to differ from the immensely popular original. Nick Frost recently spoke to Collider to promote the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon​​​​​​. During the conversation, Frost broached the subject of his other upcoming reboot, HBO’s Harry Potter. “You get cast because you’re going to bring something to that,” the actor said of making the character his own in the upcoming series. Coltrane’s performance in the original movies is as beloved and lauded as Alan Rickman’s as Professor Severus Snape. Nick Frost said that he, like everyone else who has seen the movies, loved Coltrane’s performance. But it would be wrong and disrespectful to imitate what came before.

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“While I’m really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie’s amazing performance, I’m never going to try and be Robbie,” he continued. “I’m going to try and do something, not ‘different,’ I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there’s scope for minutia. I always read Hagrid as he’s like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child.”
Nick Frost Wants to Dive Deeper Into Hagrid’s Character

Warner Brothers Pictures

One of the biggest selling points of HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, even among the most defensive of fans, is that the extended screentime will provide the opportunity to explore stories and characters from the books that were cut from Warner Bros.’ more streamlined movies. Nick Frost hopes that, by adapting a single book per season, it will allow him to dig deeper into Hagrid as a character and explore what makes the lovable half-giant tick. “I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can’t wait,” Frost explained. This deep dive into the character also includes embracing Hagrid’s comedic side. “He’s funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That’s what I’m planning on doing.” Harry Potter is expected to be released in late 2026, early 2027, and even that’s an optimistic prediction. But Nick Frost revealed that HBO will charge forward like the Firebolt broomstick through production. “[It’ll be] ten or eleven months a season,” the actor said. That’s longer than a Hogwarts school year! Source: Collider

Harry Potter

Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

Directors

Mark Mylod

Writers

Francesca Gardiner

Dominic McLaughlin

Harry Potter

Arabella Stanton

Hermione Granger

Alastair Stout

Ron Weasley