Latest news with #WizardingWorld
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet Your New Ron, Harry And Hermione: Warner Bros. Latest Harry Potter Casting Announcement Comes With A First Look Pic
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. There are popular franchises, and then there's Harry Potter. The Wizarding World is a sensation that has spanned books, video games, stage plays, theme parks, and (of course) the Harry Potter movies. Those titles are some of the best book to screen adaptations ever, but hardcore fans are eager to see the novels become extra fleshed out in the developing live-action TV series. The cast has slowly been coming together, and now we've gotten a photo of the new Ron, Harry, and Hermione together. What we know about the Harry Potter TV show has been limited, but a number of casting announcement have come over the last few months. While it was exciting to learn Lohn Lithgow will play Dumbledore, fans have been wondering about our three heroes. Now we know Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. Check out the trio together below: The Wizarding World's three primary heroes are officially cast, and they look pretty perfect for their roles. The Harry Potter movie cast grew up before our eyes, and we'll get the same privilege with this trio of young actors. Author J.K. Rowling writes about these characters' hair at great length, and they all certainly look accurate to the books. Max: Plans start from $9.99 a monthThe Harry Potter franchise is streaming on Max, which will be the home of the TV series. Pay $9.99 a month for its With Ads plan, and with three tiers available following a Max subscription. View Deal Fans might note that Hermione actress Arabella Stanton is an actress of color, standing in juxtaposition to Emma Watson. Hermione's race is never explicitly mentioned in the Potter books, as much as she's supposed to have curly hair. There was some backlash when Black actress Noma Dumezweni was cast in the role for Cursed Child's Broadway and West End productions, with Rowling coming to her defense. It should be fascinating to see what this young trio of actors brings to their roles in the Harry Potter TV show... especially considering how passionate the generations of Wizarding World fans are. They've got some big shoes to fill, but expanding each book into a full season of television should allow for them to flesh out unique takes on Harry, Ron and Hermione. Just like the film series, we're getting relative unknown for this trio, who will be acting along acclaimed actors in the adult roles. Although to be fair, Stanton has been working on the West End. This trio will be joining previously announced actors like Jon Lithgow and rumored ones like Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein. Fans are wondering if the OG cast might be back as different roles, although Daniel Radcliffe has seemingly put the kibosh on that himself. The Harry Potter TV show isn't part of the 2025 TV premiere list, but that's not stopping anticipation from steadily building. Hopefully we get more information about this highly anticipated project sooner rather than later.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
This underrated survival thriller with Daniel Radcliffe is streaming for free on Prime Video — and it's based on an intense true story
I've long been fascinated by the post-Potter career of Wizarding World star Daniel Radcliffe. After finishing his stint as 'The Boy Who Lived' in 2011, the British actor has crafted quite a diverse filmography and has flexed his acting muscles across a wide range of genres. While the likes of horror 'The Woman in Black' and action-comedy 'The Lost City' received their fair share of attention, Radcliffe's 2017 survival thriller, "Jungle," never managed to break out. That's a shame, as this 'man vs. nature' tale is gripping and sees Radcliffe in fantastic form as a real-life adventurer. Never heard of 'Jungle'? I'm not particularly surprised, but there's no time like the present to fix that oversight, as this movie is currently available to stream for free via Amazon Prime Video. As with pretty much all free streaming, you will have to tolerate commercials, and while these are annoying, a couple of ad breaks are a small price to enjoy an intense survival drama without spending a cent. Here's what you need to know about 'Jungle' now it's streaming for free. Based on the true story of Israeli adventurer Yossi Ghinsberg's trek into the Amazon rainforest in 1981, 'Jungle' is a story of survival and the hostility of the natural world. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In the 1980s, Yossi (played by Radcliffe) was backpacking through Bolivia when he was invited on an expedition into the dense jungle alongside friends, Kevin (Alex Russell) and Marcus (Joel Jackson). At first, the trip is the stuff of dreams, as the group explores sites of extreme beauty that no camera can fully capture. However, the once-in-a-lifetime experience takes a nightmare turn when Yossi becomes separated from his crew and forced to battle against the elements for survival. With no formal training, lacking any survival gear and the jungle throwing relentless obstacles in his path, Yossi must endure practically unimaginable hardships to make it through a thick green maze that seems never-ending. 'Jungle' packs a strong cast. Thomas Kretschmann's Karl, a man who claims to be a seasoned expert in the Amazon but is quickly revealed to be less trustworthy than advertised, leaves a strong impression. However, this is very much Radcliffe's movie. The movie's back half, which sees Yossi stranded miles from civilization in the thick and dangerous jungle, allows Radcliffe to become fully absorbed in the character. The sequences where he starts to hallucinate due to lack of sustenance are so intense that they border on uncomfortable. At least he makes a valuable friend in a riverside tortoise! Yossi's on-screen plight is especially harrowing because it's inspired by real events. Of course, 'Jungle' does play around with the overall timeline and changes a few elements of Yossi's story for the dramatic effect, but the broad strokes are accurate, which adds greater stakes and a sense of authenticity. The closing moments, which show images of the real Yossi following his ordeal, make for a fitting conclusion, even if his skeletal appearance is rather stomach-turning. While the movie does place a lot of focus on Yossi's misery and the intense trauma of his situation, it's also deeply inspiring. Watching him keep finding the drive to push on, refuse to give in to sheer despair and even constantly tell himself "I will survive" is spine-tingling, and Radcliffe's committed performance only elevates things further. Just don't be surprised if the movie puts you off exploring for life — I'll be sticking to beachside resorts in the future. Director Greg McLean also incorporates some truly breathtaking shots of the jungle itself, giving the movie an almost virtual tourism element. Of course, not that it exactly serve as a particularly compelling travel advertisement. Nevertheless, the movie does highlight the beauty of nature and serves as a valuable reminder that the wild, untamed jungle must be respected. I'm a little surprised to see that 'Jungle' has only managed a 60% score on Rotten Tomatoes, as in my view, it deserves a much higher score. The most common criticism appears to be the scripting in early portions, and the second act being rather melodramatic in tone. While I somewhat agree, the movie really comes into its own when Yossi is separated from his friends and has nobody to rely on but himself to survive the green sprawl. The movie's viewer score is similar at 59%, with some audiences struggling with the pacing. Though I would push back against this line of critique, as while it's certainly not a zippy thriller, I was never for a moment bored while watching, and the constantly ratcheting stakes ensure that the movie only gets better as the two-hour runtime progresses. Now that 'Jungle' is available to stream for free on Prime Video, I would encourage you to give it a watch. It's a fantastic showcase for Daniel Radcliffe's talents (he's so much more than just Harry Potter), and a reminder that, for all the beauty in the world around us, nature can be an extremely hostile force. It's almost like a feature-length episode of Bear Grylls' "Man vs. Wild" TV show, only in this case, Yossi wasn't sleeping in a luxury hotel each night after filming was finished. He was instead squaring off against Mother Nature for real. Not sold on "Jungle" and looking for some alternative options? Here's a roundup of everything new on Prime Video in June 2025. But you will need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch these movies and TV shows. Watch "Jungle" for free on Prime Video now
Time Magazine
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
HBO Announces New Cast Members for Upcoming Harry Potter TV Series
After seven core-series books, 11 films including three Fantastic Beasts prequels, a stage sequel, and countless spinoffs and inspirations in the form of theme parks, video games, merchandise, and more, the Wizarding World is set to soon expand to one more medium: TV. Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans in 2023 to develop a new live-action Harry Potter series, with each book in the main franchise to be adapted into one of seven seasons that will come out over 10 years on cable network HBO and its streaming platform HBO Max. 'I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series,' said J.K. Rowling, who authored the novels that first published in 1997 and who will be an executive producer of the series. 'The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years,' Warner Bros. Discovery said in its announcement. The original movies launched the careers of stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, while also featuring beloved actors such as Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ralph Fiennes. With the first season of the reboot expected to be released in late 2026 or early 2027, Warner Bros. Discovery has steadily revealed more and more of the names set to take part, most recently announcing nine roles on June 9. Here's everyone we know so far that will be in the new Harry Potter series. Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter Scottish child actor Dominic McLaughlin is set to take on the role of the eponymous protagonist of the series that was originally portrayed by Radcliffe in the films. McLaughlin will also appear in the Sky comedy film Grow and the BBC children's action adventure series Gifted, both set to be released in 2025. McLaughlin's role in Harry Potter, alongside the other leads, was announced in late May. Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger Arabella Stanton, an 11-year-old British actor best known for portraying Matilda Wormwood in Matilda: The Musical in London's West End, will portray Harry's wise friend Hermione Granger, who was portrayed in the films by Watson. Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley Alastair Stout—a relative newcomer whose only previous acting credit, according to The Scotsman, was as 'son at dinner' in the closing seconds of a potatoes commercial —rounds out the main trio as redhead Ron Weasley, who was portrayed in the films by Rupert Grint. John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore Six-time Emmy winner, two-time Golden Globe winner, and two-time Oscar nominee John Lithgow will portray Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts. In the main films, Dumbledore was portrayed by the late actors Michael Gambon and Richard Harris, while a younger version of the character in the Fantastic Beasts films was portrayed by Jude Law. The 79-year-old American actor told ScreenRant that the role of Dumbledore will 'define me for the last chapter of my life.' Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall Portraying Minerva McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore's deputy headmistress, is Golden Globe and Tony winner as well as Emmy- and two-time Academy Award-nominated English actor Janet McTeer. The role was previously portrayed by the late Maggie Smith. Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape Paapa Essiedu, a 35-year-old British actor and Emmy nominee, will take on the role of Severus Snape, the Hogwarts professor that was portrayed by the late Alan Rickman in the films. Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid English comedian Nick Frost, who famously co-starred in the Edgar Wright-directed trilogy of films Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End, will portray Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts groundskeeper portrayed by Robbie Coltrane in the film series. Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell Theater rising star Luke Thallon will portray Quirinus Quirrell, a Hogwarts professor portrayed by Ian Hart in the first Harry Potter film. Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch Welsh comedian Paul Whitehouse, who portrayed the minor character Sir Cadogan in the third Harry Potter film, joins the TV series ensemble cast as Argus Filch, the grumpy Hogwarts caretaker portrayed by David Bradley in the films. Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley English actor Katherine Parkinson, who won a BAFTA award for her performance in British sitcom The IT Crowd, will take on the character of Molly Weasley, Ron's mother who was portrayed by Julie Walters in the films. Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy British child actor Lox Pratt, who is also set to star in the BBC's upcoming Lord of the Flies series adapted from William Golding's famous novel, will portray Potter's classmate and nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Tom Felton first played the character in the film franchise and is set to reprise the role in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy South Africa-born actor and musician Johnny Flynn will portray Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father who was portrayed by Jason Isaacs in the films. Flynn is best known for starring in British sitcom Lovesick and for portraying David Bowie in the 2020 biopic Stardust. Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley Harry Potter's spiteful aunt, Petunia Dursley, who was portrayed by Fiona Shaw in the films, will be portrayed in the TV series by Bel Powley. Powley won a number of accolades including the Cannes Film Festival's Chopard Trophy for her star performance in 2015 coming-of-age film The Diary of a Teenage Girl, and she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for her lead role in World War II biographical miniseries A Small Light (2023). Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley Petunia's husband, Vernon Dursley, who was portrayed by Richard Griffiths in the films, will be portrayed on the small screen by English actor and comedian Daniel Rigby, who won a BAFTA award for his lead role in the 2011 BBC film Eric & Ernie and is also set to join the ensemble cast of Amazon Prime Video's upcoming Blade Runner 2099 series. Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan Irish newcomer Leo Earley, who appeared in December on the Irish program The Late Late Toy Show, will portray Potter's schoolmate Seamus Finnigan, who was portrayed by Devon Murray in the films. Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil Italian child actor Alessia Leoni, who has no previous acting credits and reportedly answered a casting call last fall, is set to portray Hogwarts student Parvati Patil, who was first portrayed by Sitara Shah in the third Harry Potter film and Shefali Chowdhury in the fourth, fifth, and sixth films. Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown Sienna Moosah, who was also reportedly cast via open audition, will portray Lavender Brown, another Hogwarts schoolmate, in the upcoming series. In the films, several actors portrayed Brown, who was a minor character until the sixth film, in and after which she was portrayed by Jessie Cave. Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic portrayed in the films by the late Robert Hardy, will be portrayed in the TV series by Tony-winning British actor Bertie Carvel.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Two award winning Brit actors announced for new Harry Potter TV show as Rivals and Ripley stars join cast
THREE award-winning Brit actors have been announced for the new Harry Potter TV show. From HBO, the upcoming series will adapt JK Rowling 's novels for a new generation. 7 7 7 7 Several new cast members have now been officially confirmed to join the Wizarding World. Among them is Katherine Parkinson, who will be portraying beloved Weasley matriarch, Molly. The actress, 47, is a BAFTA winner for her role as Jen in hit sitcom The IT Crowd. Viewers may have more recently seen Katherine as Lizzie Vereker in raunchy Disney+ series Rivals. Fellow BAFTA winner Daniel Rigby, 42, is set to play Harry's Muggle uncle Vernon Dursley, He won a BAFTA for playing Eric Morecambe in 2011 BBC film Eric and Ernie. Also joining the cast is Bel Powley in the role of Harry's biological aunt, Petunia Dursley. Her past credits include a main role on The Morning Show, opposite Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Lox Pratt, star of the BBC's upcoming Lord of the Flies, will be playing Harry's school rival Draco Malfoy. Meanwhile, actor Johnny Flynn, 42, will take on the role of Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. He has played real-life figures such as David Bowie and a young Nicholas Winton. Johnny also worked with predecessor Jason Isaacs in 2021 film Operation Mincemeat. Three of Harry's classmates have also been cast - Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown. Rounding out these announcements is Dalgleish actor Bertie Carvel, 47, in the role of Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Last month, the three screen newcomers playing Harry, Ron and Hermione were officially unveiled. Dominic McLaughlin is set to star as Harry, with Alastair Stout as Ron and Arabella Stanton as Hermione. Harry Potter author JK, 59 - who will also serve as executive producer of the TV series - had her say on the young trio. Writing on social media after the news broke, she said: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' Several major adult roles were already confirmed, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore. How to spot a rare Harry Potter book AS JK Rowling's popularity has rocketed, so has the value of the first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. If you think you might have one, then first look to see if Bloomsbury is listed as the publisher on the title page at the bottom. The copy should be a first edition - which will be noted within the first few pages. The latest date listed in the copyright information must by 1997. It should be credited to "Joanne Rowling" and not "J.K Rowling" and carry a print line that reads " 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on the copyright page. There is a mistake on page 53 where '1 wand' appears twice in the list of school supplies Harry receives from Hogwarts, which was corrected in later print runs. For the other titles in the Harry Potter series, it is only the first hardback editions with the dust jacket that have any collectable value. The show will also feature Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Luke Thallon as Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Filch. Speaking at the time, showrunner Francesca Gardiner said: "We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch." Mark Mylod, who will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO, added: 'We're delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can't wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.' The series is also executive produced by JK Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. 7 7 7
Business Insider
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Business Insider
Universal's new theme park is absolutely incredible — but it's also got some big flaws
As a theme-park fanatic, I love Universal's new Epic Universe in Orlando and have visited 3 times. It's my new favorite theme park, but it didn't feel designed with Florida's climate in mind. It doesn't have many indoor or shaded areas, and most of its rides are vulnerable to rain. I've lived in Orlando, the "Theme Park Capital of the World," for over 25 years. In that time, I've already gone on thousands of visits to the area's attractions, from Disney World to Universal Orlando. So, I was pumped when Universal debuted Epic Universe, Florida's first new theme park in years. Even though it opened on May 22, I've already been three times, since I was able to get several early-preview tickets as a Universal annual pass holder. I've visited dozens of theme parks around the world, and Epic Universe has the most innovative, high-quality attractions I've ever seen. From immersive experiences and design to delicious food, Epic has pretty much everything I look for in a park. However, there's it severely lacks indoor attractions and shaded areas. And in Florida, that can be a huge problem. The park's current setup means one storm could ruin an entire visit Orlando experiences a lot of rain, especially during summer months and hurricane season. This also tends to be the most popular time of year for people to visit its theme parks. Unfortunately, all but four of Epic Universe's 11 attractions are in outdoor, uncovered locations. With so few indoor options, inclement weather could really wreak havoc on the park. People are already waiting over three hours to get on one of the park's few indoor rides, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, during fair weather. If it's also one of the few rides that can stay open on a rainy day, the wait time may only get worse. Epic Universe also has amazing interactive experiences throughout its parks, and unlike rides, they require little to no wait. My family loved casting spells at magical windows within its Wizarding World of Harry Potter and using special bands to compete in larger-than-life video-game components found throughout Super Nintendo World. However, these elements are nearly all located outdoors and would also be unpleasant to complete during a downpour. Epic Universe's lack of indoor rides means it can't quite compete with neighbors like Universal Studios and Disney's Magic Kingdom, which offer about a dozen options to enjoy in any weather. When it rains during our visits to those parks, we visit one of their many indoor attractions that range from family-friendly Minions-themed simulators to thrill rides like Space Mountain. At Epic, we were left scrambling to find cover or waiting in line for hours for one of our very limited options. A lack of shade combined with Orlando's tropical climate can make for a steamy visit Many of Epic Universe's shows and dining venues are indoors, which provides some relief on rainy and sweltering days, but I'm not sure that's enough. Even on a cloudless afternoon, Florida's heat can make competing for coins Mario-style or waiting in some outdoor queues feel practically unbearable. Although the park is overflowing with scenic gardens, it lacks mature trees to shield those walking through from the sun. Without covered awnings, fans, misters, and air-conditioned places to rest, the park feels like a scorcher on a sunny day. Unfortunately, it's also not possible to beat the heat by visiting Epic Universe after sunset. The posted park hours through the end of July show it closing at 9 p.m., not long after the sun sets. I'm hopeful the new park will keep getting better All that said, Epic Universe has only been officially open for a few weeks. Despite these flaws, I'm still impressed and believe it has the potential to be the best theme park in Orlando. However, I think there's room for improvement and wish it were better set up to thrive in Florida's extreme weather, from afternoons with blazing sun to mornings with rainstorms. In order for the park to truly be Epic, it needs more options that can be enjoyed come rain or shine — and maybe even hours and activities that can take us into the night.
