HBOs Harry Potter TV show is supposed to be a fresh start, but Nick Frosts Hagrid says otherwise

Date:
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:42:05 +0000

Description:
After Nick Frost promised his version of Hagrid wouldnt be anything like Robbie Coltranes, the first look at the HBO Harry Potter TV show version is unexpected.

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HBOs Harry Potter TV show is coming to the small screen in 2027, with
filming officially beginning this week. Weve already had one first look in
the form of Dominic McLaughlins Harry , and now a second character has followed suit. Nick Frosts Hagrid has already made waves on the internet, but theres something important to bear in mind.

Of course, we all love the original cast in the Harry Potte r movies , including Maggie Smith (McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Snape), Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) and original Hagrid Robbie Coltrane. Yet the fact remains that
in two years time well have a fresh crop of famous faces in these same roles, such as Paapa Essiedu (Snape), John Lithgow (Dumbledore), Nick Frost
(Hagrid), and Janet McTeer (McGonagall).

Obviously, the HBO Max version can never replace who came before, and it goes without saying that the new TV show will likely feel completely different. While these are just assumptions at this stage, the first look at Nick Frosts Hagrid could certainly blur the line between the two in the worst way. Is Hagrid in the HBO Harry Potter TV show too much like the original movie version? Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Obviously, the fact that McLaughlin's Harry looks so similar to a young
Daniel Radcliffe has gone down incredibly well (including with me), but the similarities in Hagrids past and present is slightly more unsettling. Lets face it were looking at an airbrushed version of the original in this new snap. Of course, this could be hypocritical, but theres extra context with Nick Frosts Hagrid.

In an interview with Collider , Frost previously confirmed he was never going to try and be a version of Coltranes portrayal. You get cast because you're going to bring something to that. While I'm really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie [Coltrane]'s amazing performance, I'm never going to
try and be Robbie. I'm going to try and do something, not different, I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia, he said.

With this in mind, I wasnt expecting Hagrids physical appearance to be so similar? Its expected character descriptions will play by the books rules,
but that doesnt mean the TV show has to copy exactly what we saw in the
movie. Arabella Stanton (Hermione) and Paapa Essiedu (Snape)s castings are great examples of this, as is the cast of hit Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child .

Theres no question that Im running before I can walk with my assessment here, but I do think the physical similarity is a hindrance rather than a help. Hagrid is arguably the most beloved adult character of the bunch, so well
have the highest expectations for him. Stick an identical wig and a massive beard on him, and Frost is instantly lost in Coltranes shadow. Clearly the differences in Hagrid will come through in his personality, but is that
enough of a difference? Is there enough of a reason to reboot Harry Potter at all?

I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait. He's funny! I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That's what I'm planning on doing. You might also like Superman's most surprising cameo has got me asking 3 big questions about James Gunn's next DCU project When might James Gunn's Superman movie be available to watch on HBO Max? IT: Welcome to Derry everything you need to know about the new Max horror series



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/hbo-max/hbos-harry-potter-tv-show-is-suppo sed-to-be-a-fresh-start-but-nick-frosts-hagrid-says-otherwise


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