Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the only installment in the Potterverse that is yet to be made into a film, but it’s worth considering just who would be the ideal cast for it. With the HBO TV remake of Harry Potter on the horizon, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear that the stage play will receive the silver screen treatment. Over the years, the Potterverse has become beloved by many, with the fandom developing and expanding the story of the Wizarding World beyond its original source.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the last story in Harry’s canon and was first released on the West End in 2016, alongside the publication of the script in book format. Introducing a new generation of Hogwarts students, alongside the return of some Harry Potter favorites, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child follows the story of time travel and alternate timelines after the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. With a world of brilliant, established actors worldwide, there are some amazing candidates who could reprise these iconic roles.
10Harry Potter
Nicholas Hoult
Harry was played by Daniel Radcliffe in the original Harry Potter film series, and presuming he wouldn’t reprise his role, another great alternative would be Nicolas Hoult. Hoult has grown a huge, well-established career in both the UK and the US, starting off as a child in About a Boy, opposite Hugh Grant, and as a teen in the drama Skins. Hoult has also been seen in some of the biggest TV shows and movies in recent years, including The Menu and The Great.
He’s also been no stranger to being a part of big franchises, having starred in both the X-Men and Mad Max series as well. Hoult has proved throughout his long career just how versatile an actor he is, portraying an array of differing characters. From the deeply serious to the wacky, hilarious, and charming, Hoult’s acting range could make him an ideal suggestion for the titular character.
9Hermione Granger
Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan could make a brilliant Hermione Granger, Harry Potter‘s most prominent female character. As a member of the Golden Trio, nailing Hermione’s casting would be a priority, but Ronan’s recent performances are more than enough argument for this. Her dramatic performances in the likes of Ladybird and Mary Queen of Scots prove just how strong an actress she is.
She’s also a very experienced performer with a long-spanning career, making her debut on Irish TV in 2003 at just 9 years old. Interestingly, Ronan auditioned for the role of Luna Lovegood in the original Harry Potter films. Despite losing out to Evanna Lynch, Ronan has had a strong career, and being cast as Hermione would allow her to finally be a part of the Potterverse.
8Ron Weasley
Domhnall Gleeson
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Despite appearing in the original franchise, Domhnall Gleeson would be an ideal selection for the role of Ron Weasley. Gleeson played Bill Weasley in both parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so he’s experienced in portraying a member of the Weasley clan. With a long list of credits under his name, including General Armitage Hux in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Domhnall Gleeson’s best movie role came in the 2013 film About Time. It makes sense for Gleeson to play the brother of his previous character, but he’s also a natural redhead, which is an added bonus.
7Draco Malfoy
Barry Keoghan
It’ll be hard to improve upon Tom Felton’s iconic performance as Draco Malfoy, but one candidate who could do so would be Barry Keoghan. The Irish actor has risen to fame in recent years for his performances in the MCU film Elementals, as well as Saltburn, with the latter proving just how strong his ability to play psychologically disturbed characters is. Not only would Keoghan be able to nail Draco’s deep stare, but playing the legendary Malfoy would be a staple in his career.
6Albus Severus Potter
Finn Wolfhard
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child sees Harry’s son, Albus, entering his fourth year at Hogwarts. While a lot of actors play characters younger than themselves, this would be a good opportunity for some younger actors to steal the spotlight. One possible casting for Albus would be Finn Wolfhard, who is best known for his roles in It, It Chapter 2, and Stranger Things. Wolfhard is no stranger to playing teenagers or appearing in projects with supernatural and magical elements, and so would be right at home playing the middle Potter child.
5Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy
Timothée Chalamet
Scorpius Malfoy is another character, much like Albus, who didn’t have much time in the original franchise. Playing the child of a legendary character is a tough feat, but one that could easily be tackled by Timothée Chalamet. Chamalet recently starred in Wonka as the titular character and is best remembered for his role in the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Chalamet’s ability to play obscure characters would be useful for the portrayal of Scorpius, and he is talented enough to bring a deeper layer to the character.
4Delphi Diggory
Anna Taylor-Joy
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child introduced a brand-new character to the franchise: Delphi, the child of Bellatrix Lestrange and Voldemort. Despite being raised by Amos Diggory, Cedric’s father, whose grief over his son’s death motivates the stageplay’s story, Delphi’s evil and conniving ways are very representative of her biological parents. A great candidate to play this character would be Anya Taylor-Joy, whose most memorable role is as Beth in The Queen’s Gambit, which earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film.
3Professor Severus Snape
Benedict Cumberbatch
It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Severus Snape other than Alan Rickman, who sadly passed away in 2016. However, a brilliant alternative to portray the Potions Professor would be British icon Benedict Cumberbatch. Not only would Cumberbatch be able to replicate Rickman’s tone and demeanor as Snape, but he’s also incredibly talented at playing complex and intelligent characters. Great examples of this include his roles as Sherlock Holmes in BBC’s Sherlock, as well as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, which earned him various nominations, including a Golden Globe for Best Actor for both projects.
2Professor Albus Dumbledore
Sir Ian McKellen
Michael Gambon is another Harry Potter alumni who is no longer around, meaning that Professor Dumbledore, who he portrayed from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban until the end of the franchise, will have to be recast. Naturally, it makes sense that the only person who could step into the role of Hogwarts’ Headmaster would be Sir Ian McKellen. Not only is McKellen a legendary actor on both stage and screen, but he has already portrayed one of the most famous Wizards in fictional history, having played Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film franchises.
1Cedric Diggory
Tom Holland
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child sees the resurrection of Cedric Digory, but in a twist of events, the Hufflepuff ends up joining the Death Eaters. This would be a great opportunity for an actor to put their own mark on the character, and, presuming that Robert Pattinson doesn’t reprise the role, it would be interesting to see Tom Holland take the reins. Best known for being the latest incarnation of Spider-Man, Holland also starred in the psychological thriller TV show The Crowded Room, which would be a good start to get into the mind of a manipulated, twisted Cedric.
