Stanton's Trial for Hermione Role Echoes Watson's Past Casting in HBO's Potter Redo
HBO's Upcoming 'Harry Potter' Series Casts Arabella Stanton as Hermione
HBO has announced the talented young actors to portray the iconic characters in its upcoming 'Harry Potter' series. Among the chosen cast is 11-year-old Arabella Stanton, who impressively secured the role of Hermione Granger.
A recent video clip of Stanton's audition has surfaced online, showcasing her strong screen presence and acting skills as Hermione. Fans highly appreciate her performance, finding similarities with Emma Watson's portrayal of the character and even comparing it to Jenna Ortega's.
Stanton's audition clip features her delivering a dialogue from the Harry Potter films as Hermione. Her poise and acting talent have left fans excited about her portrayal of the intelligent, brave, and just young witch.
One of the commenters expressed, "She's perfect for the role! She kinda reminds me of Emma Watson and Jenna Ortega mixed into one." Another remarked, "She's exactly the Hermione I imagined when I read the book many years ago. I have no doubt she'll be great." Yet another admirer wrote, "She is excellent. That dialogue delivery and expression is spot on." Some readers noted, "That was perfect, almost exactly how I imagine book Hermione, and there's clearly so much inspiration taken from Emma." Another fan commented, "Why does she sound like Emma Watson?"
The upcoming HBO series will mark the continuation of the magical world of Harry Potter, with Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint having previously brought the characters to life in the film series. After a year-long global search and over 30,000 auditions, HBO has revealed Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer.
Veteran actor John Lithgow will star as Albus Dumbledore, with Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, and Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell. The series, written by Francesca Gardiner and directed by Mark Mylod, is set to premiere in 2026.
Stanton, born on April 11, 2014, has already achieved early acclaim for her lead roles as Matilda Wormwood in 'Matilda The Musical' (West End, 2023-2024) and as Control in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Starlight Express' (2024-2025).
While Stanton's on-screen performance as Hermione is yet to be seen, her acclaimed stage work suggests she will bring a fresh interpretation to the character, with strong acting, singing, and emotional range reminiscent of Emma Watson's defining portrayal of Hermione. Both actresses will set the standard for Hermione's on-screen presence, albeit in different creative visions—one in films and the other in a television series.
In addition to her extensive stage work, such as playing Matilda Wormwood and Control, Arabella Stanton's impressive audition for HBO's upcoming 'Harry Potter' series has shown that she has the potential to bring a unique interpretation of Hermione Granger to the small screen. This popularity in entertainment industries, including movies-and-tv and bollywood, further cements Stanton's status as a promising new talent in the realm of entertainment, alongside established actors like Emma Watson and others in the upcoming series.
