Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman has weighed in on the upcoming television adaptation of JK Rowling’s hit novels, explaining why he thinks the series will be “more satisfying” than the films. Production is currently underway on HBO’s star-studded show, which will see a fresh crop of young stars play The Boy Who Lived and his Hogwarts schoolmates, while the likes of John Lithgow and Katherine Parkinson have also landed roles. Oldman, who played the much-loved Sirius Black in the original films, appears to have given the series backing – highlighting how much material from the books was absent from the movies. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the Slow Horses star explained: “We had to cut a lot, and still we could only get the films down to, like, three hours. “I believe [the TV series is] gonna do it pretty much word-for-word, which I think, as a viewer, would be more satisfying.” It’s yet to be revealed who will play Oldman’s character in the series (Getty) Oldman also said “a lot of character detail was sacrificed” …

Another actor for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series adaptation is speaking out about author J.K. Rowling’s trans views. Bel Powley, who plays Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley in the highly anticipated series, told The Telegraph in an interview published on Monday, “I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender. I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.” Powley then explained, “But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.” Rowling is an executive producer on the HBO series, which will adapt each of the author’s Potter books into a season of television beginning this December. Yet Powley is one of a few from the sprawling ensemble cast to address the hot-button topic. Nick Frost, who plays the Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid, said last year, “She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form.” John Lithgow, who plays headmaster Albus Dumbledore, has given …

Daniel Radcliffe has weighed in on the ranking of the Harry Potter film adaptations, admitting he was surprised by some of his own preferences. The British actor, 36, played the lead role in eight film adaptations of JK Rowling’s best-selling book series, between 2001 and 2011. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Radcliffe was presented with bracketed choices between pairs of Harry Potter films, which were then whittled down to an overall winner: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two, a film he described as “my favourite of all of them”. Daniel Radcliffe pictured in April 2026 (Getty Images) Radcliffe explained that he has “more time now for me in the early films”, which included the inaugural adaptation Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), and the followup Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). He explained that when he was still 18 years old, he “would cringe watching the earlier films”. “Now I think the early films are sweet, and now I cringe watching myself when I was …

Young Harry Potter walks towards the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch in a red and gold Gryffindor cloak bearing his name in the first look at the new TV series about the wizard. The highly anticipated series will star Dominic McLaughlin in the role that made Daniel Radcliffe a household name. Each season of the HBO show will be a faithful adaptation of the books by JK Rowling, who is an executive producer. The first image shows Harry from behind as he makes his way to the pitch, behind a large group of students. Large flags for school houses Gryffindor and Hufflepuff hang from the outside of the pitch. The hooded cloak he is wearing bears his surname and his player number, seven. The Instagram post is captioned “Tomorrow”, alongside a lightning bolt, hinting that more information about the show is imminent. Not featured in the picture are Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron. The three children were cast in the starring roles after a casting call saw around 32,000 children audition for the …

Katie Leung is opening up about the impact of the racist bullying she experienced as a teen following her casting in the Harry Potter franchise. The actress, who stars in season four of Netflix’s Bridgerton, played Cho Chang in the last five films in the blockbuster fantasy franchise. However, after landing the role of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Cedric Diggory’s (Robert Pattinson) love interest in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, she recalled reading racist and hateful comments online. “It was overwhelming from the get-go,” Leung recently told The Guardian of the sudden fame that came with starring in Harry Potter. “Being in the spotlight from that age, when you’re already insecure, was difficult, to say the least.” She added, “At the time, I was having a lot of fun. I thought, This is different from school, and I really did not enjoy school. So it was a way to escape. I’m still trying to figure it out, really, how it affected me.” It makes sense that anyone in her spot would be …