It goes without saying that Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley will go down as one of the most iconic trios in pop culture history, but there was a standout character that took the spotlight in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Sirius Black.
Played by Gary Oldman (JFK, Darkest Hour) in the films, the wizard grew into a beloved fan favourite over the years, so it’d be apt for the Hollywood veteran to portray another iconic figure in the upcoming HBO reboot. Speaking to IndieWire, he said that while he hasn’t been contacted for a role, returning as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore is a challenge he’s keen to explore.
“I love Sirius. He wasn’t in it enough. He turned up and then he went through the veil,” Oldman said. “I would bet my money that they will get a whole new cast of people. Maybe in a few years I could do Dumbledore.”
At 66 years of age, Oldman would make for a good fit. Original Dumbledore star Richard Harris debuted in the first movie at 71, with Michael Gambon taking over the role upon the former’s demise at 64. With the Harry Potter reboot eyeing a 2026 release, there’s still some time to go before filming starts.
In the meantime, the series is continuing the search for its cast. An open casting call for Harry, Ron, and Hermione was announced earlier in September, following Daniel Radcliffe’s insistence on having a clean break from the films. Succession veterans Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod will serve as showrunner and director, respectively, on the Harry Potter reboot project, which is already locked in for a 10-year run.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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