HBO's ambitious Harry Potter series is wasting no time building out its magical world. With the first season—adapting Philosopher's Stone—set to premiere on HBO Max this Christmas, the network has already locked in key roles for Season 2, which will tackle Chamber of Secrets. The latest additions bring a beloved father figure, a famously gloomy ghost, and an overly enthusiastic fanboy into the fold.
Rafe Spall has been officially cast as Arthur Weasley, the warm-hearted, Muggle-obsessed patriarch of the Weasley clan. He'll be joined by Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle and Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey. Spall's casting carries a delightful bit of franchise symmetry: his father, Timothy Spall, played Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail) in the original film series. While Timothy's character was a traitorous Death Eater, Rafe's Arthur is one of the most genuinely good people in the wizarding world—a stark contrast that fans are sure to appreciate.
Spall is no stranger to high-profile projects. He broke out in Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, then took on historical drama with Anonymous before starring in Ridley Scott's Prometheus and Ang Lee's Life of Pi in 2012. His filmography also includes The Big Short, The BFG, The Ritual, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Men in Black: International. On the small screen, he spent five seasons on Apple TV+'s Trying and appeared in The English, Black Mirror, and War of the Worlds.
Who Is Arthur Weasley?
For those needing a refresher, Arthur is the father of Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, Bill, and Charlie—and the ever-patient husband of Molly. He works at the Ministry of Magic's Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, but his job is more of a passion project: he's endlessly fascinated by everyday Muggle items like telephones, rubber ducks, and escalators, much to Harry's bemused exhaustion. Despite his comic relief exterior, Arthur is a senior member of the Order of the Phoenix and a steadfast parental figure to Harry throughout the series. In the original films, the role was played by Mark Williams.
Hewitt-Richards will bring Moaning Myrtle to life, the perpetually miserable ghost who haunts a girls' bathroom at Hogwarts and becomes an unlikely ally to Harry during his investigations. Ambrose, meanwhile, will play Colin Creevey, the camera-toting first-year who idolizes Harry with an intensity that borders on obsessive—a character who provides both comic relief and a touch of pathos.
The cast for Season 1 already includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, Alastair Stout as Ron, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell. Earlier announcements also brought Kit Harington on board as Gilderoy Lockhart and Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, setting the stage for a rich second season.
With production on Season 2 reportedly imminent, fans won't have to wait long to see these new faces in action. The series is clearly aiming for a deep, faithful adaptation, and the casting choices continue to impress. For more on the wizarding world, check out which books hold up best or what Ralph Fiennes thinks of the new cast.
As the premiere approaches, anticipation is building. Will this series capture the magic of the books? With a cast this strong, it's looking promising.
