The Harry Potter cast continues to expand, with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry house ghosts added to HBO's adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The Sorting Hat, meanwhile, has found its voice.
The newest additions to the series include Leo Bill (Nearly Headless Nick), Andrew Brooke (The Bloody Baron), Laura Smyth (The Fat Lady), Daniel Fearn (The Fat Friar), and David Threlfall (voice of The Sorting Hat).
The Gryffindor house ghost, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, is known for his unfortunate execution and famously incomplete decapitation. Bill's credits include Taboo, The White Queen, Alice in Wonderland, and Becoming Elizabeth.
The ghost of Slytherin House, the Bloody Baron, is a sinister presence at Hogwarts, recognisable by the bloodstains covering his silver robes. Brooke has appeared in The Bank Job, Sherlock Holmes, The Mummy, and Jack the Giant Slayer.
The Fat Lady is the portrait guarding the entrance to Gryffindor Tower and requires students to provide the correct password before allowing them through. Smyth is a comedian and actress whose television appearances include Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, QI, and Would I Lie to You?
The Fat Friar is the cheerful ghost of Hufflepuff House and one of Hogwarts' more welcoming spirits, known for his friendly demeanour. Fearn's credits include The Death of Stalin, Man vs. Bee, This Is Going to Hurt, and The Personal History of David Copperfield.
The Sorting Hat determines which of Hogwarts' four houses each first-year student will join, taking their personality and qualities into account. Threlfall is best known for playing Frank Gallagher in Shameless and has also appeared in Hot Fuzz, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Ripper Street.
You can see each of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's new cast members in the Instagram gallery below.
"There is nothing special about Harry Potter - at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says," reads the synopsis. "On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past."
The main cast of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
Rounding out the supporting cast are Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Leigh Gill as Griphook, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.
The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive-produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max on December 25.