Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Warner Bros. Pictures

A casting call for Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series has many fans fearing the Hollywood production will race-swap or even push sexuality changes onto the main character of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), Warner Bros. Pictures

The casting call, posted to Cast It Talent’s website, reveals the production is looking for children who will be between the ages of 9-11 in April 2025 and who are residents of the United Kingdom or Ireland.

It then provides instructions for applicants to apply including a video submission of a short poem or story as well as a second video providing information about the applicant including, birth date, height, and where you live as well as information regarding family members and pets.

However, the end of the casting call is where many fans’ fears are stemming from. It states, “We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”

An image for the UK Open Casting Call for HBO’s Harry Potter series

In a blog post on the official Wizarding World website covering the casting call does try and blunt fears revealing the show “will serve as a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.”

However, this does not appear to be working. Pop culture analyst and commentator Gary Buechler predicted that the character of Hermione will be diversified given the character was race replaced in the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play with actress Noma Dumezweni.

He stated, “My guess is Hermione.” Film Threat founder Chris Gore added, “She will be — a prediction — light skinned black girl.” Buechler replied, “Yup. They already did it in the play. I know they did it in the play. … But you are right. Which would be so on the nose because of Hermione’s character and she’ll be called a mudblood.”

When the casting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was initially announced, fans were not happy about the change.

Nevertheless, series creator J.K. Rowling defended the decision telling The Guardian, “With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot. But what can you say? That’s the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job. When John told me he’d cast her, I said, ‘Oh, that’s fabulous’ because I’d seen her in a workshop and she was fabulous.”

J.K. Rowling via misshef YouTube

As for when to expect the show to arrive on HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav indicated the company was aiming for a 2026 premiere.

He said during the company’s s Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Call in February, “We’ve not been shy about our excitement around Harry Potter. The last film was made more than a dozen years ago. I was in London a few weeks ago with Casey and Channing, and we spent some real time with JK and her team. Both sides are thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

He added, “We can’t wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world on Max. We’re aiming for a debut in 2026.”

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Warner Bros. Pictures

As for what to expect, when the show was initially announced, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed, “The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.  The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years.”

“Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally,” it explained.

Rowling added at the time, “Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series.”

HBO and Max Content Chairman and CEO Casey Bloys added, “We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way.”

He added, “Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2010), Warner Bros. Pictures

What do you make of this casting call and its commitment to “inclusive, diverse casting?” Do you think they will race replace or change the sexualities of any of the characters for this show?