Shameless actor David Threlfall has been unveiled as the voice of the Sorting Hat in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.
The TV network announced another round of new cast members on Friday, including Threlfall who starred as alcoholic father of six Frank Gallagher in the critically acclaimed UK comedy drama, Shameless.
Threlfall, 73, appeared in the series for all 11 seasons, with co-stars including Anne-Marie Duff as his eldest child, Fiona Gallagher.
In author JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books, on which the series is based, the Sorting Hat is a sentient magical hat at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that decides which of four “Houses” students are placed: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
The initial season is based on the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Other cast to be announced on Friday (30 October) are Andrew Brooke (PhoneShop), who will play Slytherin House ghost the Bloody Baron, Slow Horses actor Daniel Fearn as the Fat Friar, ghost of Hufflepuff House, and Leo Bill (Alice in Wonderland) as Gryffindor’s House ghost Nearly Headless Nick.
Meanwhile, comedian Laura Symth, who appeared in Netflix’s hit drama Baby Reindeer, will play the Fat Lady, the sentient portrait who guards the entrance to Gryffindor House.
Last month, a trailer offered a look at the moment Harry tries on the Sorting Hat and later makes his Quidditch debut at Hogwarts.
Clips also feature the three leading characters. Hermione, played by Arabella Stanton, attempts to make friends on the Hogwarts Express by talking about her summer reading, while Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) tries to read his acceptance letter before his elder brothers spill jam all over it.
The new arrivals join the already expansive cast of the forthcoming series, which will debut on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day (25 December).
They include: John Lithgow as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge.
Newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will star in the lead roles of best friends Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Jasper Talbot and Hannah Chinn will portray Harry’s parents, James and Lily Potter.
Work has also already begun on season two, based on the second book in Rowling’s series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Kit Harington of Game of Thrones and Industry fame will play Gilderoy Lockhart, while Rafe Spall will play Ron’s father Arthur Weasley, and Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle.
Rowling is executive-producing the series along with Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, David Heyman, Laura Neal and Jon Brown.
Harington, who replaced Nicholas Hoult in the role after the X-Men actor left the project, said earlier this month that he believes the forthcoming series is doing the original books "more than justice".
“I’ve started filming that. It’s a beloved series of books to me personally and I’ve got one of the characters who I think is just one of the great guest roles there is,” he said.
He continued: “I’m coming for this season and just have such a fun time. I think having seen the sets and what they’re doing, they are doing it more than justice.
“It is extraordinary the kind of craftsmanship that’s on work in that show, and in an age of technology and AI and what have you – they’re making everything.”
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