The Wizarding World may be moving into a new era, but plenty of familiar faces haven't left it behind.
Several actors from the original Harry Potter movies have already returned to the franchise in some surprising ways, with some reprising their famous roles and others taking on entirely new characters.
Fantastic Beasts Film Series
For starters, Jamie Campbell Bower returned as a young version of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts movies, while Hebe Beardsall reprised her role as Dumbledore's sister Ariana in the most recent chapter, The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
Luke Youngblood has also found his way back, voicing Everett Clopton in Hogwarts Legacy before reprising his role as Quidditch commentator Lee Jordan in Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Tom Felton recently returned as Draco Malfoy on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with Rupert Grint now set to follow as Ron Weasley. Although sadly the two won't appear on stage together.
Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions
The returns haven't been limited to the original movie cast, though. Bill Nighy joined Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions as Horace Slughorn after playing Rufus Scrimgeour in the films, while Simon Pegg voices Arthur Weasley after previously appearing as Phineas Nigellus Black in Hogwarts Legacy.
Kit Harington has now been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO's series after voicing the character in the full-cast audio editions.
Similarly, Arabella Stanton, who plays Hermione Granger in the upcoming HBO reimagining, voices the Gryffindor witch in the first three volumes of the audio series.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Last year, Imelda Staunton officially reprised her role as Dolores Umbridge for the Universal Epic Universe attraction Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Related:Â After Exiting Production on HBO ‘Harry Potter,' Actor Speaks Out on Public Recasting
And then there's Warwick Davis, who has taken the biggest step yet by returning as Professor Filius Flitwick in HBO's new adaptation.
The upcoming Harry Potter series marks the beginning of a new continuity separate from the original movies, adapting J. K. Rowling's seven novels across multiple seasons.
John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost is Rubeus Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu is Severus Snape, and Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton lead the new generation as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, respectively.
The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, premieres on Christmas Day.
Which of these returning actors surprised you the most? And who else would you like to see return to the Wizarding World? Let us know in the comments below!
