Asha Soetan, the actress cast as Angelina Johnson in HBO Max's upcoming Harry Potter series, has shared new details about the show ahead of its premiere. The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will have eight episodes and is set to premiere on December 25, 2026.
In an interview with the outlet The British Blacklist, Soetan said the television version would be much more personal and detailed than the original saga and would highlight its magic. The 15 year old actress, who read the books when she was 11, added that she was excited for fans to see the incredible sets built for the series, naming Diagon Alley, Gringotts, Ollivander's and the students' common room as standouts.
How the casting process unfolded
Soetan described the casting process as organized, saying she was told early on that she had a strong chance of being selected for the role. She said that at that point her excitement grew because the role went from being a possibility to a reality, whereas beforehand she had treated it like any other audition and hadn't allowed herself to get her hopes up.
She said that after that stage, she spent days waiting until she received the final call from her agent, at which point she began picturing herself in the series, aware of how large the project was. She added that she had loved the Harry Potter saga since she was a child.
Playing Angelina Johnson
Soetan also spoke about her character, describing Johnson as fierce, someone you would not want to cross, confident and passionate about Quidditch. She said she loved that Johnson does not let anyone push her around and that she is friends with everyone on her Quidditch team.
Cast and future seasons
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The wider cast includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Snape.
The production aims to offer a longer adaptation that stays closer to J.K. Rowling's original novels, exploring each book in depth across multiple seasons. HBO Max has already confirmed a second season, which will adapt Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Filming on that season is expected to begin next autumn.
