Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: Harry Potter will be black in the upcoming Harry Potter series on HBO Max.
1. Summary of the results
The claim that Harry Potter will be black in the upcoming HBO Max series is currently unfounded. Multiple sources confirm that the role of Harry Potter has not yet been cast [1] [2]. The confusion may stem from the confirmed casting of Paapa Essiedu, a black actor, who will play Severus Snape, not Harry Potter [3]. The casting process for the main trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione is still ongoing, with an open casting call that has received over 30,000 submissions [2].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important pieces of context are missing from the original statement:
- The series is scheduled to film later this year with a potential release in late 2026 or early 2027 [4]
- John Lithgow has been cast as Dumbledore [4]
- Warner Bros. Television Group head Channing Dungey has stated they are "still weighing a couple of different options" for the main roles [5]
- The casting process has received approximately 32,000 applications from children [6]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement appears to be part of a larger discourse around casting controversies in the series. There are several factors to consider:
- There is already some controversy around casting choices, particularly:
- Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape [7]
- John Lithgow, an American actor, playing Dumbledore [8]
- The statement might be attempting to generate controversy before actual casting decisions have been made
- Various groups might benefit from spreading such misinformation:
- Media outlets seeking engagement through controversial headlines
- Social media accounts looking to generate traffic through unverified claims
- Groups seeking to create division around casting choices in major franchises
The key fact remains that Warner Bros. has not yet announced any casting decisions for the role of Harry Potter [5], making any claims about the actor's race premature and speculative.