Huge Netflix stars 'in talks' to play in HBO's new Harry Potter series

by · Mail Online

A major Netflix star is reportedly 'in talks' to take over from the late Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in HBO's new Harry Potter series.

Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer could be new face to play the beloved Hogwarts deputy headmistress, according to Deadline.

Janet, 63, is best-known for her role as Mary Jo Walker in 2000 comedy Tumbleweed, while she also starred as attorney Helen Piece in hit TV show Ozark. 

With negotiations in the works to for the series adaptation, Paapa Essiedu is also reportedly 'closing his deal' to play Alan Rickman's Severus Snape.

Paapa, 34, is known for his roles in projects such as The Lazarus Project and also Gangs Of London and has long been rumoured to play Snape in the upcoming series.

HBO recently said in a statement: 'We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumour and speculation.

A major Netflix star is reportedly 'in talks' to replace the late Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in HBO 's new Harry Potter series 
Oscar and Emmy-nominated Janet McTeer could be new face to play the beloved Hogwarts deputy headmistress, according to Deadline (pictured in August)

'As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals.'

MailOnline has contacted HBO's representatives for a comment. 

John Lithgow is so far the only cast member who has officially been confirmed as he announced he will be taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the HBO series.

The 79-year-old star has said stepping in to the shoes of the magical headmaster, first played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, 'came as a total surprise to me'.

'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life. I'm afraid,' he said.

'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter.

'That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.'

Dumbledore, the fictional headmaster of Hogwarts and a mentor to the title character, has become one of the most-beloved characters among fans of Rowling's original books and the film series.

With negotiations in the works to for the series adaptation, Paapa Essiedu (pictured in May) is also reportedly 'closing his deal' to play Alan Rickman's Severus Snape 
The late Alan Rickman (pictured in 2001) notably portrayed the role of the potions professor throughout Warner Bros' Harry Potter film franchise from 2001 through 2011
Elsewhere, John Lithgow has clearly cast a spell over Harry Potter producers as it is confirmed he is the first major signing for a new TV series based on the JK Rowling novels 
The character, played by Michael Gambon in the final six of eight Harry Potter films, is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts and a mentor to the title character

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And not all hardcore fans of the franchise were pleased with his casting as they argued that a British actor should have nabbed the role, not an American, as per the original films.

Taking to X, fans wrote: 'I can't understand why John Lithgow is the new Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter HBO series. Dumbledore is British, Lithgow is from the USA.'

'Nothing against John Lithgow, but Dumbledore and the whole Harry Potter franchise is British.'

'I love John Lithgow. Absolutely bananas they're not hiring a British actor to play Dumbledore.'

'WarnerBros quite literally need to pull something out of their hat to save Harry Potter. John Lithgow as Dumbledore certainly feels like it's going to put a lot of people off wanting to watch it. Whatever happened to keeping it all British?'  

The new Harry Potter television series promises a deeper exploration of the wizarding world and could run for up to 10 years.