Summary
HBO has assembled a talented cast of actors for its upcomingHarry Potteradaptation, which is set to begin production this summer for the first season.John Lithgow, Nick Frost, and Katherine Parkinson have all been confirmed as part of the cast, which has been building a lot of excitement for the television show.
HBO’sHarry Potteris set to remain faithful to JK Rowling’s novels, just as the iconic movie series did. However, fans are expecting some slight adjustments and tweaks due to the television series having the benefit of extra time. However, that’s not set to benefit one character, who fans shouldn’t expect to have much influence.
Paul Whitehouse will playArgus Filch in HBO’sHarry Potterseries, one of the supporting roles in the wider story.Filch didn’t have a significant impact in theHarry Pottermovies when he was played by David Bradley, and it appears that’s going to continue in HBO’s version of the show, as Whitehouse has confessed toIreland AMthat he doesn’t have many lines.
“I don’t think I get many lines, which suits me fine. I don’t have to learn a lot. I start on that in August, so [I’m] looking forward to it. It’s a big, big, big production.”
Of course, this is just the case forthe show’s first season, which will be based onHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.That is what the cast will be recording first ahead of the 2027 release date,but Whitehouse’s role could grow as the show develops. There’s no guarantee that Filch will only remain a supporting character with limited words throughout the entire show, as HBO might look to add further opportunities for Whitehouse. He’s an actor who is notorious for his comedic skills, and there’s a lot of excitement about how he could bring that to the role of Filch.
Filch might just be seen as the grumpy caretaker in the movies who is a bit of a fool by the other students. However, in Rowling’s books, he does have a more detailed role. He’s not just someone who is always out to catch anyone misbehaving, which usually sees him run into the Golden Trio, as he has an interesting backstory.Filch is a squib, which means he’s non-magical and cannot perform magic, making his involvement in the wizarding world an interesting one. It’s whyhe’s often so grumpy around the students, as Filch deals with jealousy toward the other students. This is something that HBO’sHarry Pottercould look to explore in more detail, as it would help differentiate it from the movies, which will be essential for the show’s long-term success.
Another way that HBO could give Filch more lines in theHarry Pottertelevision adaptation is by exploring his rivalry with Peeves,who is Hogwarts' poltergeist. Peeves is a big part of the books, often causing mischief at Filch’s expense around the school. However, the character was cut entirely from theHarry Pottermovies, much to the disappointment of many fans. People are hopeful that Peeves will be brought to life in HBO’sHarry Potter, and if that’s the case, then it would certainly give Whitehouse an even bigger role with Filch.
