Gary Oldman, 68, who portrayed Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films, believes the HBO series adapted from J.K. Rowling’s novels will be more satisfying than the films. Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will play Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in the production, which is currently being filmed; John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Parkinson and Nick Frost will also be part of the cast. Warwick Davis is the only actor confirmed to be returning from the films, in the role of Professor Filius Flitwick.
Oldman said that many details from the books had been left out because of the films’ running times, and stated that he believed the series would tell the story almost exactly, word for word. The films did not cover Sirius’s role in creating the Marauder’s Map or much of the period when he lived as a fugitive. The scene in which Neville visits his tortured parents, as well as Voldemort’s past, were also among the elements not included in the adaptations.
HBO has not announced who will play Black; the character is not expected to appear until the events of the third book. The series is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Why it matters
The series’ episodic format means that character connections and backstories that remained in the background due to the films’ time constraints can be explored in greater depth. This could particularly change the prominence in the adaptation of elements that explain the reasons behind events, such as Sirius Black’s place in the story and Voldemort’s past. However, the extent to which the production will remain faithful to the book remains an expectation limited to Oldman’s personal assessment; HBO has not disclosed the details of this approach. While the major change in the cast leaves the question of continuity between the films and the series open, Warwick Davis’s return represents the only confirmed link in this regard. The uncertainty over who will play Sirius indicates that the character has been left for later episodes.