HBO is close to finalising key casting decisions for its highly anticipated "Harry Potter" series, with Janet McTeer in talks to play Professor Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu nearing a deal for Professor Severus Snape. If confirmed, they will join John Lithgow, who has been cast as Professor Albus Dumbledore.

The series, a fresh adaptation of J K Rowling's beloved books, is shaping up to be one of HBO's most ambitious projects. Sources indicate that McTeer, an Oscar and Emmy nominee, and Essiedu, an Emmy-nominated actor, are in advanced negotiations, marking significant progress in assembling the cast.

While HBO has not officially commented on the casting developments, the network acknowledged the growing speculation surrounding the project. 

"A series of this scale naturally invites a lot of discussion and rumours," HBO stated. "As pre-production progresses, we will announce confirmed details once deals are finalised."

The upcoming series, envisioned as a decade-long project, is being developed under the creative leadership of writer and showrunner Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod attached as director and executive producer. 

When the adaptation was first announced, Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, described it as a "faithful retelling" that will explore each book in greater depth than ever before.

During a Max event in London last December, showrunner Francesca Gardiner shared that the upcoming "Harry Potter" series will remain faithful to the characters' "canonical" ages. This means Severus Snape will be portrayed as a 31-year-old, and the Dursleys will appear much younger than in the original film adaptations.

This decision sheds light on the casting of Paapa Essiedu, who is in his thirties, for the role of Snape—a character originally brought to life by the late Alan Rickman in the film series. Snape, the complex and enigmatic Potions Master at Hogwarts, later ascends to the position of Headmaster, leaving behind one of the most compelling arcs in the "Harry Potter" universe.

Meanwhile, Janet McTeer is close in age to the late Maggie Smith when she first took on the role of Minerva McGonagall over two decades ago. As Hogwarts' Transfiguration professor and the steadfast head of Gryffindor House, McGonagall is known for her firm yet caring mentorship. 

She also serves as Deputy Headmistress under Albus Dumbledore, played in the series by John Lithgow. In the "Fantastic Beasts" prequel films, a younger version of McGonagall was portrayed by Fiona Glascott.

With HBO's "Harry Potter" series, the franchise continues its push for greater inclusivity and diversity—a shift that began with Noma Dumezweni's casting as Hermione Granger in the long-running stage production "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." 

The upcoming "Harry Potter" series will be filmed at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, the same location where the original films were shot. It is expected to premiere on HBO in late 2026 or early 2027. 

The search for the new Harry, Hermione, and Ron has been extensive, with around 32,000 young actors submitting audition tapes. However, final casting decisions for the trio have yet to be announced.

For both Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu, this marks a return to HBO. McTeer previously portrayed Clementine Churchill in HBO's "Into the Storm", a performance that earned her an Emmy nomination. 

Essiedu, meanwhile, starred as Kwame in Michaela Coel's acclaimed BBC/HBO limited series "I May Destroy You," which brought him both Emmy and BAFTA TV nominations.

McTeer's recent television credits include the Netflix series "Kaos" and FX's "The Old Man". On the big screen, she has been nominated for Academy Awards for her roles in "Tumbleweeds", which also won her a Golden Globe, and "Albert Nobbs". 

She is set to appear next in "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning". A decorated stage performer, McTeer has won both Tony and Olivier Awards for "A Doll's House" and has received multiple nominations for her theatre work. She is represented by MGMT Entertainment, Curtis Brown, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

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Essiedu, also a BAFTA TV nominee for "The Lazarus Project", recently appeared in Netflix's hit spy thriller "Black Doves" and starred opposite Saoirse Ronan in "The Outrun", which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. His upcoming projects include the British horror-comedy "The Scurry". 

He is represented by Curtis Brown, WME, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.