The Harry Potter TV show has already cast several key characters from the books, including Harry (Dominic McLaughlin), Ron (Alastair Stout) and Hermione (Arabella Stanton). Adult characters cast as of writing include Snape (Paapa Essiedu), Dumbledore (John Lithgow), Professor McGonagall (Janet McTeer), and Hagrid (Nick Frost). All of these characters are vital to the story of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, each having a role in the narrative.

Now, Deadline reports that Bertie Carvel has been cast as Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter TV series. He will have a recurring role in the TV series, despite originally making his debut in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in both the books and movie adaptations. This means his character is going to be making appearances much earlier than expected, indicating he'll have a potentially important role in the first book's adaptation.

Robert Hardy played Fudge in the movies, appearing in four of the eight films.

What Carvel's Casting As Cornelius Fudge Says About The Harry Potter TV Show

Why Is He Appearing Earlier Than Expected?

Fudge's early appearance within the cast of Harry Potter's TV show indicates there will be some key changes to how his story ties into the larger narrative. Season 1 will be eight episodes long, giving the series plenty of time to introduce more worldbuilding elements. This could justify his appearing in a recurring capacity before becoming a more important part of the narrative in future seasons. His role could also be as small as a photograph or background appearance, reflecting how he was mentioned in the first book, but never physically appeared.

However, the announcement of Carvel's casting didn't specify if he would be appearing in season 1; this could signal a close production time for seasons 1 and 2. Given HBO has a 10-year plan to adapt all seven Harry Potter books, though, it would make more sense if he showed up in season 1. This would add to the narrative by hinting at future events much earlier, offering a different lens through which to view the core events of the show. His appearance, then, could be a nod to readers of where the story is going to go.

Our Take On Carvel's Casting As Fudge In Harry Potter

His Previous Roles Make Him Perfect For The Minister of Magic

Carvel is an award-winning TV and theatre actor, winning Laurence Olivier Awards for his roles as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical and Rupert Murdoch in Ink. He's also the titular lead in the British drama Dalgliesh and portrayed Tony Blair in The Crown. His versatility as an actor makes him a perfect choice for Fudge in Harry Potter. However, with his character seemingly appearing much earlier than in the books, it will be interesting to see how he fits into the story of the first book, and how big a role he plays.

Harry Potter starts filming in summer 2025.

Source: Deadline