HBO is preparing to take audiences back to Hogwarts, but most of the professors waiting inside the castle will look very different this time around.
The upcoming Harry Potter television reboot is assembling an entirely new cast as it returns to the beginning of J.K. Rowling's story. That means several characters made famous by the original Warner Bros. movies are being recast.
At least seven familiar Hogwarts professors are confirmed for the new adaptation. Six will have new actors stepping into roles previously played on the big screen.
One, however, won't.
In a surprising connection to the original movies, HBO is bringing back an actor who already spent years teaching at Hogwarts.
HBO Is Starting the ‘Harry Potter' Story Over
The new Harry Potter series isn't a sequel to the eight Warner Bros. movies. Instead, HBO is adapting the books again, this time using a television format that gives the story considerably more room.
That means audiences will once again meet Harry as he discovers the Wizarding World and begins his first year at Hogwarts.
Naturally, that also requires bringing back the teachers who surrounded Harry during his early years.
Several of those roles became closely associated with the actors who played them in the movies. HBO now faces the challenge of introducing new interpretations while revisiting characters audiences already know extremely well.
John Lithgow Replaces Two Former Dumbledore Actors
Albus Dumbledore is back, with John Lithgow taking control of Hogwarts as its new headmaster.
Richard Harris originally played Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). Following Harris' death, Michael Gambon assumed the role beginning with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).
Lithgow will now become the third major actor to portray Dumbledore across Warner Bros.' adaptations of Harry's original story.
Janet McTeer Takes Over as McGonagall
Professor Minerva McGonagall is also returning, but Maggie Smith won't be the face audiences see this time.
Janet McTeer will portray Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration professor, and Head of Gryffindor House.
Smith appeared as McGonagall throughout the original eight-film series, turning the stern but caring professor into one of the franchise's most recognizable characters.
McTeer's version will have an opportunity to revisit McGonagall's story with the additional time that comes from a television adaptation.
Paapa Essiedu Becomes the New Severus Snape
Perhaps no professor presents a tougher recasting challenge than Severus Snape.
The late Alan Rickman played the character throughout all eight original films. HBO has selected Paapa Essiedu to succeed him.
Snape begins Harry's story as the Potions professor and Head of Slytherin House. His hostility toward Harry makes him an immediate source of suspicion, although his complete story becomes far more complicated as the saga unfolds.
Essiedu now gets the chance to build his own version of Snape rather than recreate Rickman's performance.
Quirrell and Madam Hooch Are Returning
Two other characters from Harry's first year will also return.
Luke Thallon will play Professor Quirinus Quirrell, replacing Ian Hart from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001).
Quirrell serves as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor during Harry's first year and eventually becomes central to the mystery Harry, Ron, and Hermione are trying to solve.
Louise Brealey will meanwhile portray Madam Rolanda Hooch.
Zoë Wanamaker originally played Hogwarts' flying instructor and Quidditch referee in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). Hooch introduces Harry and his classmates to broomsticks during one of their earliest Hogwarts lessons.
Professor Sprout Gets a New Actor
Sirine Saba will take over as Professor Pomona Sprout.
Miriam Margolyes originally portrayed Hogwarts' Herbology professor, beginning with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
Sprout also serves as Head of Hufflepuff House and becomes an important member of the Hogwarts faculty throughout Harry's time at the school.
That accounts for six major replacements.
The seventh professor is where HBO is doing something completely different.
Warwick Davis Is Going Back to Hogwarts
Professor Filius Flitwick is returning, and so is Warwick Davis.
Rather than recasting the Hogwarts Charms professor, HBO is bringing Davis back to play the character again.
Davis portrayed Flitwick in the original Harry Potter film franchise and also played the goblin Griphook. His return makes him the first original movie actor confirmed to reprise his Hogwarts role in the reboot.
It's an interesting choice considering HBO is otherwise establishing a separate version of the Wizarding World.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Quirrell, Hooch, and Sprout will all have new faces. Flitwick provides a direct connection to the movies that introduced millions of viewers to Hogwarts.
A Very Different Hogwarts Is Taking Shape
Recasting the original Harry Potter ensemble was always going to be one of HBO's biggest challenges.
Actors such as Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, and Michael Gambon became closely associated with their characters. The new cast will inevitably face comparisons when audiences return to Hogwarts.
Television does provide one major advantage.
A longer format gives HBO more opportunities to explore professors and supporting characters whose stories were reduced to fit the movies.
With seven familiar professors already confirmed, the new Hogwarts faculty is quickly coming together.
Six will introduce audiences to completely different versions of familiar characters.
Warwick Davis, meanwhile, gets to walk back into Hogwarts and pick up his wand once again.
