HBO is casting a wide net for its Harry Potter series

The casting call, which was confirmed to be authentic by Variety, states that it is only searching for “children who are aged 9-11 in April 2025, and a resident of the UK or Ireland.” It currently has buttons to submit for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It also states that the show is “committed to inclusive, diverse casting,” with a special note that “qualified performers” should be submitted for every role “without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.” It will be interesting to see if this commitment actually bears any fruit with Rowling as an executive producer, but it’s definitely a promising start.

These days, going to a movie theater feels a bit like watching a revolving door filled with the same ten or so actors in different wigs and outfits, so it’s always refreshing when a major tentpole actually commits to finding new talent. It paid off for Percy Jackson And The Olympians, and it especially paid off for the original Harry Potter movies, which made Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint into overnight sensations. It’s hard for this writer to imagine Harry, Hermione, and Ron being played by anyone else, but maybe the next generation will say the same for whoever this open call discovers.