Another week, another cast reveal – only this project deals with wizards rather than Liverpudlian musicians of the 1960s, and there’s only three of them in the band. Yes, we have finally learned the identities of some of the actors who will join the cast of US network HBO’s ambitious, seven season TV adaptation of the Harry Potter novels.

Only some of the identities, mind. We wait to hear who will play Harry, Hermione and Ron – the Fab Three, if you like – in part because the process of auditioning 32,000 young hopefuls has yet to be concluded. But we do now know that Conclave star John Lithgow will fill Michael Gambon’s magical slippers as Albus Dumbledore and that the roles of Severus Snape, Professor McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid will go to British trio Paapa Essiedu, Janet McTeer and Nick Frost respectively. Also in the cast are Paul Whitehouse, as Argus Filch, and Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell.

The show-runner is British writer Francesca Gardiner. Her credits include Killing Eve and the adaption of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials novels for the small screen. The series will be produced by another Brit, Mark Mylod, best known for his work on the all-conquering Succession series. He will also direct some episodes.

According to showbiz bible Variety, filming will take place largely at the same studio where the Harry Potter films were made, the Warner Bros.-owned Leavesden Studios. It’s also home to the rather excellent Harry Potter studio tour. Transmission date for the first instalment of what is expected to be a decade long series is 2026.

Paapa Essiedu, John Lithgow, Janet McTeer and Nick Frost were all confirmed to be cast on HBO's Harry Potter TV adaptation (Image: Getty) So far, so........

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