HBO CASTS JAMES AND LILY POTTER IN HARRY POTTER SERIES

HBO has cast Jasper Talbot as James Potter and Hannah Chinn as Lily Potter in its forthcoming Harry Potter television series. HBO also cast Harry Gilby as Charlie Weasley, who did not appear in the original films. HBO Max announced the additions on Instagram on Monday, writing: “The magical family is growing.” The series adapts JK Rowling’s novels, which formed the basis of films released between 2001 and 2011.

In the novels, Lord Voldemort kills James and Lily before the main story begins. Lily dies protecting their infant son, and the attack leaves Harry with a lightning-shaped scar. Geraldine Somerville and Adrian Rawlins played Lily and James respectively in the films, including in flashbacks. Charlie is the second eldest son of Molly and Arthur Weasley and an older brother of Ron Weasley. A former Hogwarts pupil, Charlie works with dragons in Romania and appears occasionally in the novels.

The Harry Potter series aims to follow Rowling’s novels closely and explore more of their wizarding world than the films depicted. HBO has not confirmed how prominently James and Lily will feature in the new adaptation. An official synopsis says Aunt Petunia tells Harry there is nothing special about him before a letter admits him to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The synopsis also describes friendships, adventures and secrets within Hogwarts.