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Want to see the kid playing Harry Potter as Harry Potter? We've got you

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 2:58 PM ET

HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series has some notable names, such as John Lithgow as Dumbledore. When it came to the three main kids, though, HBO wanted unknowns and put literally tens of thousands of kids through the paces until landing on a Ron, a Hermoine, and a Harry.

Production has begun for the show, which won't debut until 2027. That means HBO has to maintain interest for quite some time. With how popular "Harry Potter" has been, maybe that won't be difficult, but a taste has been given to try to boost the hype level. Dominic McLaughlin, has donned the Potter garb:

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Well, there you have it. McLaughlin has the glasses and the Hogwarts outfit and all that stuff. He looks like Harry Potter, inasmuch as Harry Potter has a look. The book covers and the Daniel Radcliffe movies have codified what young Harry looks like, and no wheels have been reinvented here. This is just giving you the visual representation. It's "Don't worry, this is happening. See, here's Harry!"

Expect more looks at the show during production, because obviously "How is X character going to look?" is a cottage industry HBO can mine.

(h/t Variety)

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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