Gary Oldman has been discussing his interest in the new Harry Potter series, as well as expressing disappointment that he didn’t get the chance to play Dumbledore on the show.
We now know who will be starring in Season 1 of the forthcoming Harry Potter show, which is set to commence principal photography this summer, for a proposed 2026 release.
Three relative unknowns are playing leads Harry, Hermione, and Ron, the Malfoys have been revealed, while Paapa Essiedu is the new Snape, and Nick Frost is playing Hagrid.
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One of the most coveted roles is that of Albus Dumbledore, who was brought to life by Richard Harris and then Michael Gambon in the original movies, and Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts. John Lithgow has been cast as the Hogwarts headmaster in the small-screen version, which has left one actor disappointed.
Why Gary Oldman is “intrigued to see” the new Harry Potter
Gary Oldman played Sirius Black in multiple Harry Potter movies, and he’s keen to see how those same stories unfold on television. “I’m actually very intrigued to see it,” he told Variety in the above video, “because so much of the books were cut.”
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But he also thinks his participation in the films probably ruled him out of the show, saying: “My personal feeling is that they were not going to go anywhere near people that were connected to the original.”
Which meant that Oldman was gutted when Lithgow was announced, as he admits: “I would have fancied a go at Dumbledore – I’m getting up there now to the right age for Dumbledore.”
The new show is due to hit screens in 2026, and you can see what’s out before then in our our 2025 TV calendar. While for more Harry Potter action, here’s news of Tom Felton’s unexpected return to the franchise, while these are 10 facts about the new Snape.
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