Where are the original Harry Potter cast members now? New HBO series reveals adult characters

HBO has announced the first confirmed cast members for its new TV show about some of the key adult roles from Harry Potter.

The show will adapt one book per season and air on HBO Max. The first casting announcements include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Paapa Essiedu has also been officially confirmed as Severus Snape, originally played by the late Alan Rickman.

Luke Thallon has been confirmed as Quirinus Quirrell as a recurring character, and Paul Whitehouse has been cast as Argus Filch.

There are still more roles to cast, including the all-important trio of Harry Potter himself and his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

The first Harry Potter film hit cinemas over two decades ago, capturing hearts around the globe.

From 2001 to 2011, the franchise became an unstoppable pop culture phenomenon, launching many of its young stars into the limelight.

Since the final instalment, the cast members have each forged their own paths — whether pursuing acting careers, starting families or attending Ivy League universities.

Here’s a comprehensive look at where the beloved child stars of Harry Potter are now.

Radcliffe, 35, won his first major acting award at the 2024 Tony Awards, following his acclaimed performance in Merrily We Roll Along. He was part of the ensemble since the play's off-Broadway debut at New York Theatre Workshop in 2022, and continued with the production as it moved to Broadway in October 2023. The show closed in July 2024.

Off stage, Radcliffe also embraced fatherhood, welcoming his first child with long-term partner Erin Darke in 2023. The couple and their son, born in April 2023 (whom Radcliffe has refused to identify), have been spotted out and about in New York City.

Since Harry Potter, Radcliffe has built a diverse and often unconventional acting career. He’s played roles in films such as The Woman in Black, Swiss Army Man, and Guns Akimbo, and appeared in TV shows including Miracle Workers. He even lent his voice to the American adult animated science fiction sitcom Rick and Morty.

Looking ahead, Radcliffe is reportedly set to return to the Now You See Me franchise, likely reprising his role as tech tycoon Walter Mabry in Now You See Me 3, according to IMDb.

After wrapping up her time as Hermione Granger, Watson, 35, balanced her acting career with academic pursuits. She studied English literature at a prestigious Ivy League institution, Brown University in the United States, graduating in 2014.

Post-graduation, Watson became a prominent voice for gender equality. She was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and played a key role in launching the HeForShe campaign, which champions men’s involvement in the fight for gender equality. In 2018, she co-founded Time’s Up UK, and the following year, she was appointed to the G7’s advisory body on women’s rights.

Her film career has continued to flourish, with standout roles in Beauty and the Beast (as Belle), Little Women (as Meg March), and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (as Sam), among others.

Watson has also carved out a successful modelling and fashion career. She’s been the face of Burberry and Lancôme, and in 2022, she made her directorial debut with a campaign for Prada's fragrance line.

More recently, she has stepped back from the screen to focus on activism and creative collaborations. She’s worked with major publications such as Vogue and co-launched a sustainable gin brand with her brother, Alex Watson.

The red-haired boy who charmed audiences as Ron Weasley has become a versatile actor, carving out a solid career across film, television, and theatre.

Grint, 36, became a father in May 2020, when he and his long-time partner, actress Georgia Groome (Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging), welcomed their daughter, Wednesday. Since then, he’s kept much of his family life private, although fans got a glimpse after he joined Instagram in November 2020. His debut post — a photo of him holding his newborn — delighted fans and broke a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to reach one million followers, doing so in just four hours and one minute.

On screen, Grint has continued to prove his range as an actor. He’s starred in the psychological horror series Servant, produced by M. Night Shyamalan, which ran for four seasons on Apple TV+ and earned widespread praise for his performance. He also reunited with Shyamalan for the 2023 thriller Knock at the Cabin, showing a darker, more mature side of his acting.

Grint has also dabbled in theatre, previously making his West End debut in Mojo in 2013, earning solid reviews. While he remains closely associated with the Harry Potter franchise, he’s taken deliberate steps to build a career beyond it. This includes quirky indie films such as Thunderpants and Driving Lessons, and more recent genre-bending projects that show off his evolving range.

Although he keeps a relatively low public profile, Grint has spoken candidly in interviews about the surreal nature of childhood fame and the challenges of growing up in the spotlight. He has also expressed gratitude for the opportunities Harry Potter gave him and remains close with former co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.

Felton, 37, best known for his role as the bleach-blond Draco Malfoy in the films, has since built varied film, television and theatre careers.

Among his notable post-Potter roles are James Ashford in the period drama Belle, Rufus Lancaster in A United Kingdom, and the lead character in the sci-fi series Origin. In 2022, Felton made his West End debut in the supernatural thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story, earning praise for his performance.

That same year, he added "author" to his résumé with the release of his memoir, Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard. The book was a commercial success, debuting at number one on The New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.

More recently, Felton appeared in the 2023 psychological thriller Some Other Woman. Upcoming projects for the actor include roles in Altered and Gandhi, continuing to showcase his range and talent beyond his Slytherin roots.

The Irish actress, 33, who brought the wonderfully eccentric Luna Lovegood to life, has blossomed into an award-winning activist, podcaster and entrepreneur.

After finishing third on Dancing with the Stars in 2018, Lynch co-launched the vegan lifestyle podcast The ChickPeeps alongside fellow Harry Potter alum Robbie Jarvis. She also co-founded Kinder Beauty Box, a cruelty-free subscription service focused on ethical beauty products.

Beyond activism, Lynch has continued to act in film and theatre, taken on voice-over roles, and published her critically acclaimed memoir, The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting, which delves into her personal journey and creative growth.

Though she’s stepped back somewhat from the spotlight, Lynch remains active on social media, regularly championing causes she’s passionate about — including veganism and animal rights campaigns like Veganuary.

Pattinson, 38, has become one of the most successful stars to emerge from the Harry Potter franchise. After playing the tragic hero Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he shot to global fame as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga.

Since then, Pattinson has built an impressive and eclectic film career, starring in a string of critically acclaimed projects including Water for Elephants, Good Time, Tenet, The Lighthouse, and The Batman, playing the renowned role of the Caped Crusader.

Pattinson welcomed his first child with singer and actress Suki Waterhouse in early 2024.

Looking ahead, the actor is set to star in a remake of the cult 1981 horror film Possession, and is also attached to several major upcoming productions, including Dune: Messiah and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, according to IMDb.

The real-life twins behind Fred and George Weasley — known for their mischief, pranks and memorable one-liners — have continued working together since the Harry Potter films wrapped.

Oliver and James Phelps have appeared in several film and TV projects side by side and now co-host their popular podcast, Normal Not Normal, where they’ve welcomed fellow Harry Potter castmates and other celebrity guests to chat about life, fame, and everything in between.

They also worked on a travel series, Fantastic Friends on Amazon Prime, showcasing their close bond and love of exploring new places. This was first broadcast in 2022.

Beyond show business, James Phelps undertook a meaningful challenge in April 2023 when he ran the London Marathon for Endometriosis UK — a cause close to his heart, as his wife was diagnosed with the condition in 2013.