There's a huge amount of excitement surrounding Audible's Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions (the first of which launches on November 4), especially as they've assembled an even more impressive adult cast than HBO's upcoming TV series.
However, both projects have one actor in common: Arabella Stanton. The actress, who previously played Matilda Wormwood in the West End production of Matilda The Musical, will portray Hermione Granger in both the TV show and in these new audio editions, quite an honour for the talented rising star.
In an Associated Press interview, Stanton—joined by her audio editions co-stars Frankie Treadaway (Harry Potter) and Max Lester (Ron Weasley)—was asked about playing Hermione in the upcoming live-action adaptation.
"I can’t say much, because they’ve cast a Mimblewimble tongue-tying spell on me," she cleverly replied, "but I’ve just started filming, and it’s great at the moment."
Stanton, 11, later elaborated on her Harry Potter fandom by saying, "I think when I was 8, I started reading the first one. Sort of just worked my way through them, and yeah, it was great. I’ve loved Harry Potter. I love it."
"I can’t wait to hear all the spells because I think Hermione generally just says so many spells and I can't wait to hear the sounds of people casting them, I just love spells," she continued. "I love books. I love writing, I love reading, I love doing all that kind of stuff. I mean, I like school, but I don’t love school. And I think books are the main connection between Hermione and I."
Stanton will play Hermione in the audio editions of The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban (along with every season of the TV series, of course), and was asked what her favourite magic artefact is.
"One of the main props that Hermione uses is the Time Turner. I love all the magical objects like the Invisibility Cloak, the Time Turner, all those things because," she enthused. "They're things you wouldn’t be able to use in real life, but in the magic world, it transports you into a completely different world."
You can check out some new set photos from HBO's Harry Potter in the X posts below.
Dominic McLaughlin has been cast in the role of Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
Joining them will be Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, and William Nash as Gregory Goyle.
Harry Potter's adult cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey, and Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick.
The series will also feature Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, and Leigh Gill as Griphook.
Harry Potter 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.
HBO's Harry Potter TV series premieres in 2027.