HBO's Harry Potter Series Will Bring Back 8 Villains From the Daniel Radcliffe Movies

Many major villains from Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter movies will be brought to life through new actors in HBO's serialized reboot. Fifteen years after Radcliffe's time as the boy wizard ended, Warner Bros. is moving forward with a new adaptation of the Harry Potter novel series, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone coming out on Christmas Day 2026. This will allow not only the story's heroes to shine in a new light, but also their powerful enemies.

HBO Max cast eight major villains from Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter movies and author J.K. Rowling's original books for the new Harry Potter series. One of the most notable across the story's entire run is Draco Malfoy, Harry's biggest rival from Hogwarts' Slytherin house. Relentlessly bullying Harry and fighting him over the years, Malfoy is always a thorn in the titular hero's side, although more tragic parts of his story are revealed later. Newcomer Lox Pratt will play the role in the new show, after Tom Felton initially played Draco in the first eight movies.

Draco is also known for having two important cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, other Slytherin students who mostly serve as his muscle and show little intelligence in the books. Played by Jaime Waylett (Crabbe) and Josh Herdman (Goyle) in the original movies, the roles will now be played by Finn Stephens (Crabbe) and William Nash (Goyle).

One of the ultimate villains in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is Professor Quirinus Quirrell, Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in the first book. He is also revealed to have the Dark Lord Voldemort's face attached to his head under his turban, as he keeps the ultimate Potter villain alive after his interaction with Harry as a baby. Luke Thallon will play Quirrell in the HBO series, following Ian Hart's portrayal of the character in the original 2001 movie.

While Draco Malfoy is one of the main young villains, his father, Lucius Malfoy, is a key antagonist for Harry and his friends as well. Known as a pureblood aristocrat in high society, Lucius was also a devoted follower of Voldemort, and he is revealed to be a Death Eater about halfway through the series. After Jason Isaacs made Lucius Malfoy one of his most iconic villainous roles in the movies, Johnny Flynn will now play the role for the HBO reboot.

Early in the book series, Petunia Dursley is introduced as one of the story's overarching antagonists in the Muggle world for Harry. The character is Harry's aunt (his mother Lily's sister), who makes his life miserable while he's growing up and keeps his status as a wizard a secret from him. Bel Powley will play Petunia in the series, following Fiona Shaw's performance in the original movies.

Right alongside Petunia is Harry's uncle, Vernon Dursley, who treats him just as badly as Petunia does. Vernon is known for his extreme dislike of anything magical and his need to keep Harry as "normal" as possible, forcing his nephew to live in a cupboard under the stairs and putting in only minimal effort to care for him. After the late Richard Griffiths, the HBO show will feature Daniel Rigby in the role.

The most recent addition to the Harry Potter cast is the DCU's Lex Luthor star, Nicholas Hoult, as Gilderoy Lockhart, who takes on the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher position in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (the second book in the saga). Known as a narcissistic celebrity, Lockhart steals fame from better wizards by using a memory-wipe spell and taking credit for their deeds himself. In the 2002 movie, the role was played by future Thor director Sir Kenneth Branagh.

Other Villains Who Will Appear in Harry Potter Reboot Series

Outside of the villains listed above, Warner Bros. has a host of other antagonists to introduce with new actors over the course of this series.

At the top of this list is the Dark Lord Voldemort (first played by Ralph Fiennes), who is introduced in the first book and plays opposite Harry throughout the series. While multiple actors have been rumored to play Voldemort, HBO could introduce the star playing him by the end of Season 1, since he is seen on the back of Quirrell's head in the final confrontation with Harry.

Also in play will be Peter Pettigrew, played in the original movies by Timothy Spall. Pettigrew is originally seen in the first three books as Ron Weasley's rat, Scabbers, before the kids learn he is an animagus who can turn into a rat and had betrayed James Potter (Harry's father), Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin by giving Voldemort Harry's parents' locations before they were killed.

Later seasons will also introduce scary characters like Dolores Umbridge (originally played by Imelda Staunton), Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant), and many others seen in the original movies. With only two seasons confirmed, however, fans will have to wait to see who ends up playing these memorable antagonists.