Harry Potter fans divided by show’s first look at Nick Frost’s Hagrid
HBO has shared the first look at Nick Frost as Hagrid in the new Harry Potter TV show, and it’s left fans divided.
Frost was among the earliest names confirmed for the small-screen Harry Potter remake, set to play the beloved Hogwarts groundskeeper famously portrayed by Robbie Coltrane in the movies.
Over the past couple of months, there have been big developments with the new adaptation: Harry, Ron, and Hermione have all been cast alongside a smattering of other key roles (we still don’t know who’s playing Voldemort), and HBO also released a look at Dominic McLaughlin in costume as the Boy Who Lived.
With production kicking off at Warner Bros’ studio in the UK, Frost’s version of Hagrid has been unveiled.
Harry Potter fans aren’t sure about Nick Frost’s Hagrid
There isn’t much to say about Frost’s costume and makeup. He looks very similar to Coltrane’s Hagrid – for some fans, that’s a good thing, but others aren’t so impressed.
“So it’s literally just a copy/paste of the original movies wtf is the point,” one user commented. “Love him but this just doesn’t seem right, it doesn’t hit the same. Especially with them using many known actors. It just feels like a bootleg version,” another wrote.
More critically, a fan wrote: “I don’t know why but whatever pics they are sharing of [the] cast looks like AI, is it just me or you all also felt like that?”
“No thank you. Stop trying to make this happen HBO. You know this whole thing is doomed from the start,” another commented.
This has been a common sentiment since the project was announced. Controversy surrounding JK Rowling aside, some fans worry that a TV series could feel redundant, especially compared to the films, which remain acclaimed and beloved around the world.
However, there are plenty of people who are excited to see a new adaptation. “The remake is going to happen whenever you like it or not. So we can demand quality, and this is pretty neat,” one user wrote.
“I loved the old Hagrid, but this one doesn’t disappoint at all,” another commented, and a third added: “Looking great man, they couldn’t have picked anyone better for the role.”
Speaking to Who Let Us Out before the release of How to Train Your Dragon, Frost insisted that it’s “really important to honor Robbie’s legacy – and I will absolutely be doing that.”
“I want it to be funny, touching, childlike, frightening – and a mentor and a father figure in some cases,” he added.
The new Harry Potter show isn’t expected to be released until 2027, so keep tabs on what else is coming out this year with our 2025 TV calendar and check out our list of the best TV shows of all time.
