Mark Rylance is at the top of the casting wish list for HBO’s new “Harry Potter” adaptation, Variety has learned from sources familiar with the project.
Rylance, who plays Thomas Cromwell in the much-anticipated BBC drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light (based on the Hilary Mantel novel), is in the Dumbledore mix, according to Inside Buds.
Variety understands that Warner Bros. Television has not yet entered into negotiations with the actor, but the studio has reached out to gauge interest and availability.
Rylance representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An HBO representative told Variety: “We appreciate that such a high-profile series will attract a lot of rumors and speculation. As we work our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details when deals are finalized.”
While the show’s heroes – Harry, Hermione and Ron – will likely be newcomers, as Warner Bros. Open call for 9-11 year olds earlier this fall, it’s no surprise that, like the original feature film adaptations, WBD hopes to fill out the adult cast with some of the UK’s most famous actors.
The original films starred, among others, Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, and Alan Rickman as Professor Snape.
One challenge is finding talent who are willing to commit to seven potential seasons (one to correspond with each book) and who are of the right age to watch it to the end. Harris was 70 years old when he took on the role of Dumbledore and died two years later, having only completed the first two films. He was replaced by Michael Gambon for the rest of the series.
Rylance is 64, a year younger than Smith was when she started filming.
Harris originally turned down the role of Hogwarts Headmaster three times before his young granddaughter finally convinced him, according to The Guardian. “All I know is that they kept offering me the part and raising the salary every time they called me. I kept turning it down,” Harris reportedly said. “Anyone involved would have to agree to be in the next parts, all of them, and this wasn’t it.” “The way I wanted to spend the last years of my life, so I said no over and over again.”
Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for his work in Steven Spielberg’s film “Bridge of Spies.” He also worked with Spielberg on the 2016 animated film “The BFG,” based on the book by Roald Dahl. His other film credits include “Dunkirk,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Don’t Look Up,” while his television roles include shows like the aforementioned “The Government Inspector” and “Wolf Hall.”
He is repped by CAA, Hamilton Hodel and Peikoff Mahan.
“It’s a huge hit,” said Channing Dungey, director of Warner Bros. Television. Earlier this year, the HBO series, first announced for 2023, would be “more in-depth than you can in just a two-hour movie…which is the main reason we’re on this journey.” It is scheduled to premiere in 2026.
