‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Reportedly Casting ‘Star Wars’ Actor in Key Role
As Warner Bros. prepares to bring Harry Potter back to the small screen with a multi-season television reboot, the biggest mystery remains: who will be cast in the iconic roles? While official announcements have been scarce, the latest casting rumor suggests that a Star Wars actress may be taking on one of the franchise’s most infamous non-magical characters.
According to industry insider Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), Phoebe Waller-Bridge—known for her work on Fleabag and Solo: A Star Wars Story—is reportedly in talks to play Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter’s cold and condescending aunt.
If the rumors are accurate, Waller-Bridge would be following in the footsteps of Fiona Shaw, who portrayed Petunia in the original film series. Shaw’s version of the character was remembered for her stern, joyless demeanor, but Waller-Bridge’s acting style suggests she could bring an entirely new take to the role.
Petunia, despite her hostility toward Harry, is one of the franchise’s more complex figures. While she resents her late sister Lily and the magical world, her actions are often rooted in jealousy, fear, and unresolved grief. With Waller-Bridge’s reputation for portraying flawed yet deeply human characters, she could be the perfect fit for an adaptation aiming to add more depth to the source material.
Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Fans React to New TV Series’ “Diverse” Harry, Ron, and Hermione Casting
Of course, Warner Bros. has yet to confirm this or any other rumored casting decisions. Other reports have floated the possibility of Cillian Murphy as Voldemort, Brett Goldstein as Hagrid, and Mark Rylance as Dumbledore, but none of these have been verified.
Filming is expected to begin later this year, meaning official announcements should be on the way soon. The Harry Potter TV series will stream exclusively on Max, with an expected release window of 2026 or 2027.
Would Phoebe Waller-Bridge make a great Aunt Petunia? Let us know what you think in the comments!
