Summary
HBO is currently putting together an impressive cast for the upcomingHarry Pottertelevision show, and fans are eagerly awaiting further news on who will be part of the initial season. While many of the actors joining the cast are essentially signing themselves up for the next eight years due to how long their characters are part of the story, that’s not the case with everyone.
SomeHarry Pottercharacters are only part of the story for a specific period in JK Rowling’s original novels. Of course, HBO could tweak that slightly and make changes, which seems to be the case for one specific character, whose future seems to depend on the audience’s reaction.
Bertie Carvel will be taking on the role of Cornelius Fudge in theHarry PotterTV adaptation, which is a character that Robert Hardy played in the movie series. He has a vital role in the wizarding worldas the Minister of Magic, but Carvel teased that Fudge might not be kept around beyond this season if fans don’t take to the character during an interview withThe Times.
“I am coming at it with a really open mind. Whether I come back [after the first series] probably depends on what the fans think. I mean, I’ll be furious if it’s not an amazing part.”
Despite Carvel making it clear thathe won’t be happy if Fudge isn’t kept on past the first season, he also admitted that he wouldn’t have taken the role at all earlier in his career. That’s because he preferred taking on various projects during his youth, whereas a role in the HBOHarry Potterseries could be a lengthy commitment, which he’s open to. However, his casting did raise eyebrows because it hints at HBO making a significant change from the original Harry Potter story.Fudge isn’t introduced in the booksuntilHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, so HBO will provide some slight alterations to his character and the role that he plays in the overall story. However, given his significance in the political side of Harry Potter, there are a lot of possibilities for HBO to explore with Fudge and the Ministry of Magic generally.
The odds of Fudge not returning to the series do seem slim, regardless of what fans think about Carvel’s portrayal, asthe character only grows in importance. The original report fromDeadlineof his casting did claim it to be a recurring role, and that’s something that fans would expect, even if Fudge only ends up in a small part of the story as a supporting character, much like the movies. However, it’s clear from Carvel’s comments that he is hoping to impress the dedicatedHarry Potterfans, as he likes what he has read for the part so far.
Filming fortheHarry Potterserieshas already begun for several of the younger cast members, but it will officially kickstart as a full production in the summer.HBO will be using the Warner Bros. studio in Watford, England, which is the same location where the movies were filmed, connecting the two projects. The first season is expected to air at the start of 2027, and Carvel will be hoping his version of Fudge is enough to impress Harry Potter fans.
