HBO's Harry Potter TV series is now shooting in Lustleigh, England, and we have a first look at the show's take on Godric's Hollow. It's where young Harry lived with his parents, Lily and James, and the village that Lord Voldemort came to on a night that changed the Wizarding World forever.
The Halloween costumes confirm that this is the fateful evening that Lord Voldemort murdered Harry's parents and attempted to kill the Boy Wizard. In doing so, the villain caused his own apparent destruction and left a lightning bolt-shaped scar on Harry's head (later revealed to be a Horcrux).
What's particularly interesting about this is that this scene wasn't fully revealed on the page until the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Shortly before Voldemort's attack on Harry and his parents is described in detail, author J.K. Rowling sets the stage as follows:
The night, wet and windy, two children dressed as pumpkins waddling across the square, and the shop windows covered in paper spiders, all the tawdry Muggle trappings of a world in which they did not believe... And he was gliding along, that sense of purpose and power and rightness in him that he always knew on these occasions... Not anger... that was for weaker souls than he... but triumph, yes... He had waited for this, he had hoped for it...
"Nice costume, mister!"
He saw the small boy's smile falter as he ran near enough to see beneath the hood of the cloak, saw the fear cloud his painted face: Then the child turned and ran away... Beneath the robe, he fingered the handle of his wand... One simple movement and the child would never reach his mother... but unnecessary, quite unnecessary...
Does this mean we'll get to see Voldemort in Harry Potter Season 1? While the villain doesn't make his first full appearance on the page until Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, his face will be seen on the back of Professor Quirrell's head, meaning the actor who will play him is surely going to be cast now, not several years down the line.
As the books were still being written at the time, the movies went down that route. As a result, Ralph Fiennes' likeness wasn't used for that monstrous face or as a basis for the young Tom Riddle we met in the second film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
As for the decision to bring this scene forward for HBO's take on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it does make sense. It will now be interesting to see whether Voldemort—and the mysterious actor playing him—is revealed on set in the coming days.
In related news, Redanian Intelligence has learned that Robin Hood actor Jake Curran has been cast as Ronan the centaur. There's still no word on who will transform into Bane and Firenze, but Leigh Quinn (Love at First Sight) has been cast in a mystery role.
Check out these new Harry Potter set photos in the X posts below (via SFFGazette.com).
Dominic McLaughlin has been cast in the role of Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
Joining them will be Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, and William Nash as Gregory Goyle.
Harry Potter's adult cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey, and Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick.
The series will also feature Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, and Leigh Gill as Griphook.
The series is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Harry Potter premieres on HBO in 2027.