Are they Sirius? Wizarding fans get first names in cast for HBO's epic Harry Potter TV adaptation

For many Harry Potter fans, no actors could ever live up to the original cast of the cherished film franchise.

- Nadia Khomami Kate McCusker

For others, a new TV adaptation is an opportunity for greater detail and faithfulness to JK Rowling's magical seven-book series.

Some of the guessing and speculation can now be put to rest as HBO made its first official casting announcement yesterday for some of the wizarding world's most notable characters in its forthcoming Harry Potter series.

The company announced that John Lithgow will play Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu will be Severus Snape, Janet McTeer will be Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost will appear as Rubeus Hagrid. All four actors will be series regulars.

Meanwhile, Luke Thallon was announced to play Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse to play Argus Filch.

The series, designed to run for more than a decade, comes from the writer and showrunner Francesca Gardiner and the director and producer Mark Mylod of Succession.

The pair said: "We're delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can't wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life."