The eight blockbusting Harry Potter films kept the cream of British and Irish acting talent in work for a decade, with cast members including greats Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane and Gary Oldman.
But I can reveal the upcoming HBO TV series, which will be made in the UK and under author JK Rowling’s watchful eye, is going to cast younger and less famous actors in the adult roles.
The process is being overseen by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann and will get under way once they have found the child actors who will play Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Thousands of hopefuls aged nine to 11 sent in taped auditions and it’s believed that they are now having callbacks for the most promising.
As revealed in this column earlier in the year, JK will have the final say on all the casting decisions.
Actors such as Callum Turner, 34, Bel Powley, 32, Ncuti Gatwa, 32, and Thomas Brodie Sangster, 34, are the right vintage to be considered as Hogwarts teachers.
At 66, Oldman, Sirius Black in the films, could be the next Dumbledore. Asked about returning as Black, he said: ‘I would bet they will get a whole new cast of people. Maybe in a few years, I could do Dumbledore.’
He may have competition from Kenneth Branagh – Lucy Bevan has worked with Branagh a lot and, at 63, he would be the perfect age for the role. He was Gilderoy Lockhart in the films – but they were so long ago (in TV years) that it probably wouldn’t matter.
Actors such as Callum Turner, 34, Bel Powley, 32 (pictured), Ncuti Gatwa , 32, and Thomas Brodie Sangster, 34, are the right vintage to be considered as Hogwarts teachers
Actors such as Callum Turner, 34, Bel Powley, 32, Ncuti Gatwa , 32, and Thomas Brodie Sangster (pictured), 34, are the right vintage to be considered as Hogwarts teachers
There are also rumours that Mark Rylance might take the role.
Meanwhile, I hear talk of a more gothic ‘Wednesday/Tim Burton vibe’ for the TV series. Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega as the fabulously sulky Addams Family daughter and directed by Tim Burton, has been a huge hit for Netflix and they have now made series two.
The Warner Bros films were aimed at eight to 12-year-olds but it’s thought the TV show will try to capture teens and young adults, too.
Harry will still be an innocent but the production design and tone will be more grown-up – and the action scarier. It is being written by Succession’s Francesca Gardiner and directed by Mark Mylod, whose CV includes Game Of Thrones.
The plan is to make ten series at a cost of £160million at studios in Leavesden, Herts, for HBO’s streaming service, Max.
Some Harry Potter fans insist they will boycott the series because of the views of Rowling, whom they consider to be transphobic.
In a statement HBO addressed the issue, saying: ‘We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.
‘JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.’
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, the original Harry, Ron and Hermione, have criticised Rowling; while other actors from the films, including Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, have defended her.
Original stars Gard Oldman (L) and Michael Gambon (R) who played Sirius Black and Dumbledore respectively are pictured
RADA pals reunited – as Wolf Hall foes
Friends have been reunited on the BBC’s smash hit drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light. Damian Lewis, who plays Henry VIII, was a member of the RSC at the same time as Alex Jennings, who plays bishop Stephen Gardiner.
And Mark Rylance, who is Cromwell, studied at RADA with Timothy Spall – who plays the Duke of Norfolk.
Spall said: ‘I’ve known Mark coming on 50 years, so it’s great to be working with him again.
‘His performance is so brilliant, as are all of them. It was a daunting task to take over this role from someone as brilliant as the late, great Bernard Hill, who played him in the first series. I hope I have done him proud.’
Friends have been reunited on the BBC’s smash hit drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light. Damian Lewis, who plays Henry VIII, was a member of the RSC at the same time as Alex Jennings, who plays bishop Stephen Gardiner
Lady Clara and the Dancing Marquess
Meet Lady Clara Paget, who has landed a role in a film about her outrageous ancestor Henry Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey. Callum Scott Howells plays the flamboyant aristocrat in the forthcoming movie Madfabulous.
At 23, so-called Dancing Marquess Paget inherited 30,000 acres and an income equivalent to £15 million a year… which he blew on jewels and theatrical tours, before dying bankrupt in 1905 at just 29.
Director Celyn Jones tells me he had the good fortune to hire direct relative Clara to appear in the movie which is produced by Mad As Birds. Jones said: ‘Clara plays Mabel, who is in the theatre troupe Henry set up, and she has quite a pivotal role in the film. She is the daughter of the current Marquess and just a lovely person; fabulous in the film.’ Scott Howells, of It’s A Sin, shines as eccentric Henry while Ruby Stokes is his best friend Lily – whom he marries, although their love is platonic.
Rupert Everett is the Marquess’s devoted manservant. Jones said: ‘Their relationship breaks your heart. I’ve never seen Rupert in anything like this before. The film is a bit like one of those old Ealing movies where you have a great ensemble of actors.’
Clara Paget attends the launch of Della Vite Zero at The Roof Gardens on June 25, 2024 in London
Callum Scott Howells plays the flamboyant aristocrat in the forthcoming movie Madfabulous
Mystery of ‘happily single’ Depp and the Insta beauty
Johnny Depp has been single since the end of his brief but serious romance with lawyer Joelle Rich – but tongues are wagging over apparent links with a Dior influencer half his age.
Spanish beauty Jess Bordiu has interests in music, film, fashion, travel and photography – and one of the closest members of Depp’s team follows her on Instagram.
She seems to be very interested in the actor, too; posting a video of herself dancing on his birthday writing: ‘Happy birthday Johnny Depp.’
Bordiu, pictured, often writes about Depp and is apparently a fan, even dressing up as Willy Wonka for a post earlier this year. One photo on Twitter last year looks as if it was taken from the stage while Depp was performing.
Bordiu – perhaps by pure chance – happened to be in Seville when Depp was there for a film festival earlier this month. She also happened to be in San Sebastian when he was there in September.
Her Instagram suggests that she is now in London… where Depp is living.
Like him, she has links with Dior, posting paid content for the fashion and fragrance house. He is, of course, the face of Dior’s Eau Sauvage.
Director and actor Johnny Depp attends the photocall of ‘Modi, Three days on the Wing of Madness’ at Cartuja Center Cite on November 09, 2024 in Seville, Spain
Curiously, after I contacted Depp’s people, the close friend on his team unfollowed Bordiu. Even more curiously, her Instagram account was abruptly set to private.
However, a Depp source says: ‘She was not travelling with us in Seville or in San Sebastian. She doesn’t have a connection to Johnny. He’s enjoying the single life, not dating anyone.’
In fact, the actor is about to travel to Riyadh for the Red Sea Film Festival where his film Modi will appear. It was made with Saudi money. He also went to the Red Sea Film Festival last year with Jeanne du Barry, which was also partly funded by Saudi money.
Depp’s return to Hollywood has just been announced – in a movie called Day Drinker, alongside friend and frequent co-star Penelope Cruz.
She will play a bartender on a cruise ship while he is her ‘enigmatic’ day-drinking client. The movie, which is being made by Lionsgate, is an action thriller as the pair will find themselves entangled with organised crime. The cameras will roll from February in the Canary Islands.
Depp stepped away from acting for a period when he went through two libel cases – one in the UK and one in the US –centring on allegations that he had beaten former wife Amber Heard.
Depp lost in the UK but won damages from Ms Heard in the US in 2022.
She has retired from acting and is now living in Madrid with her daughter Oonagh.
Spanish beauty Jess Bordiu has interests in music, film, fashion, travel and photography – and one of the closest members of Depp’s team follows her on Instagram
Save the date for £1m WAG wedding
Viewers will get an aisle seat at a £1 million WAG wedding as the docuseries Married To The Game returns for a second run on Prime Video early next year.
The new series will feature Taylor Ward’s three-day, four-ceremony, six-dress extravaganza at Lake Como in July. It was her third wedding to Al-Ahli Saudi FC (and former Man City) footballer Riyad Mahrez. Sources confirm it cost seven figures.
It will also show the bride traveling to Istanbul to have breast reduction surgery before her big day, followed by a hen do in Marbella.
Cat Harding, engaged to Arsenal player Jorginho, is returning to the show and also has marriage on her mind, planning a Lake Como wedding to ‘J’ next summer.
Meanwhile her daughter Ada with actor Jude Law will also play a big role. She wants to pursue a career in singing, acting and musical theatre. Harding is a singer and songwriter and had a fleeting romance with Law.
Three new WAGS have joined the show: Gabrielle Figueiredo, partner of Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes; Stephanie Hope, partner of Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey; and Claudia Rodriguez, partner of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.
Cat Harding, engaged to Arsenal player Jorginho, is returning to the show and also has marriage on her mind, planning a Lake Como wedding to ‘J’ next summer
Taskmasters beaten by bubble wrap
Greg Davies and Alex Horne may have conquered the world as co-hosts of hugely successful celebrity game show Taskmaster, but there’s one challenge that continues to defeat them: how to make good TV out of popping bubble wrap.
‘We’ve tried the game “fastest to pop the bubble wrap” in four different series… and each time it’s flopped, and the footage from the games remained unaired because it’s been so boring,’ Alex said.
‘The problem is it seems impossible to pop bubble wrap fast. You have to do it section by section, which makes it long-winded. If anybody knows how to pop bubble wrap quickly and entertainingly, please let us know!’
Taskmaster has run for 18 series on British TV, the last eight on Channel 4, and is seen in more than 120 countries around the world.
Contestants in the UK version have included Claudia Winkleman, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Carol Vorderman.
Contestants in the UK version have included Claudia Winkleman, Victoria Coren Mitchell (pictured) and Carol Vorderman
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are in the middle of a tour of Les Miserables, which they will follow with their own arena tour.
Asked on the Rosebud podcast what the difference is between performing in front of 22,000 at the O2 Arena and the smaller venues of a few thousand they will also be playing, Ball deadpans: ‘The money.’
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe are in the middle of a tour of Les Miserables, which they will follow with their own arena tour
The re-emergence of ‘Schofe’ continues. Former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, who quit the show in May 2023 after concealing an ‘unwise but not illegal’ romance with a young male colleague, was at the memorial lunch for BBC radio legend Steve Wright last week.
Other guests included Chris Moyles, Simon Bates, Mike Read, Ken Bruce, Paul McKenna, Paul Gambaccini and Andy Peebles. Friends say that although he’s best known for TV, Schofe started out as a DJ and became close to Wright at Radio One, helping out on his roadshows. He was seen on Channel 5’s Phillip Schofield: Cast Away in September.
Phillip Schofield was seen on Channel 5’s Phillip Schofield: Cast Away in September
The chiselled jawlines of male Hollywood superstars are leading some men to opt to have their salivary glands removed. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Carl Truesdale says: ‘Men see that Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are looking younger and they are opting for a sharper jawline – which can be achieved with submandibular gland removal and muscle tightening.’ There is no suggestion that either superstar has resorted to such drastic measures.
Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Carl Truesdale says: ‘Men see that Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are looking younger and they are opting for a sharper jawline’