Elijah Oshin has been cast as Dean Thomas in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, joining the expanding roster of students headed to Hogwarts.
Dean, a member of Gryffindor House, became one of Harry Potter’s closest friends during his years at the school. The half-blood wizard was raised by his Muggle mother, spending much of his life unaware that his biological father was a wizard who had been killed by Death Eaters after refusing to join them. Dean’s journey in the books highlighted both his loyalty to Gryffindor and his struggles with identity, particularly during Voldemort’s rise to power. In the original films, the role was played by Alfred Enoch.
Alongside Oshin, Finn Stephens and William Nash have been announced as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, Slytherin sidekicks to Draco Malfoy, who will be played by Lox Pratt.
The latest casting update was revealed during the “Back to Hogwarts” celebration, which also confirmed Warwick Davis’ return as Professor Filius Flitwick, making him the first actor from the films to reprise his role in the new series. On the small screen, Griphook the goblin will instead be portrayed by Leigh Gill.
New faculty members joining Hogwarts include Sirine Saba as Professor Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden as ghostly History of Magic teacher Cuthbert Binns, and Bríd Brennan as Madam Poppy Pomfrey.
They join a star-studded ensemble that already features John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy.
Based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, the HBO Original series is being written by Francesca Gardiner and directed by Mark Mylod, with Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman serving as executive producers.
The Harry Potter book series first debuted in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (released in the U.S. as Sorcerer’s Stone). Across seven books, Rowling created a worldwide phenomenon, which Warner Bros. adapted into eight blockbuster films between 2001 and 2011. The Wizarding World later expanded through the Fantastic Beasts spinoff film series and stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Now, the story is returning to the screen in long-form television for the first time, filming began in July, with the show slated to premiere in 2027.