EXCLUSIVE: HBO continues to put together the cast puzzle of its high-profile series adaptation of the hugely popular Harry Potter fantasy books.
The latest major piece appears to be British actor-comedian Nick Frost, who is nearing a deal to play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, Deadline has learned.
He would join John Lithgow, Janet McTeer and Paapa Essiedu who, as Deadline has reported exclusively, are set or in negotiations to play Professor Albus Dumbledore, Professor Minerva McGonagall and Professor Severus Snape, respectively.
HBO declined comment. “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” the network said in a statement. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.” While HBO has remained tightlipped, chatter about Frost’s potential casting as Hagrid started percolating online last week, including on Reddit, as fans have been zeroing on a cryptic March 20 Instagram post by Frost, “It’s happening, it’s actually happening,” as a possible clue, along with eagle-eyed fans noticing that Frost has now followed such Harry Potter series cast members as Lithgow and Essiedu.
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