Apr 5, 2026 2:07pm PT

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Behind-the-Scenes Special Shows Off the Rigorous Casting Process, Never Before Seen Creatures, Dumbledore’s Robe and More

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Arushi Jacob

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Photographed by Aidan Monaghan

The Boy Who Lived is back – in a behind-the-scenes documentary of HBO’s upcoming adaptation of the “Harry Potter” books.

Released April 5, the 30-minute special, titled “Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic,” gave viewers a glimpse at the creation of Season 1, which is currently being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the U.K.

The documentary delved into the finer details of the large-scale production, including the casting process to find Harry, Ron and Hermione, as well as the life-like animal animatronics handcrafted for the show and the curation of a 1991-set wardrobe.

“The world of ‘Harry Potter’ is already legendary,” said the documentary’s narrator, Nick Frost. “Its legacy is still growing as a new generation discovers its magic. An exciting new era is upon us.”

HBO’s “Harry Potter” series debuts on Christmas Day.

Below are all the things we learned from “Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic.”

Casting Directors Saw Over 40,000 Auditions Before Losing Count

Image Credit: HBO

Casting directors Emily Brockmann and Lucy Bevan revealed the department watched over 40,000 auditions for the show, eventually losing track of the number.

Bevan stated that children across the United Kingdom had the opportunity to submit their auditions online before the team headed to Manchester, Scotland, Ireland, and Cardiff for in-person auditions, seeking out the actors for the Golden Trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley) auditioned in Manchester, with the directors finding him “charming and funny from the word ‘go.’” Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger) came to them in London, performing the poem “Invictus” and later a more humorous scene for the casting directors to show production as proof she could be playful.

Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter) auditioned in Glasgow, with a poem he’d written himself about a weekend in his life, quickly enamoring the directors with his “quiet confidence.”

“He’s skeptical of the adult world. He’s got a vulnerability and a melancholy and a solitary quality to him,” Bevan said, reading out casting notes they kept in mind when looking for someone who could play Harry. “It’s basically: find an incredible actor, age 10.”

“He means so much to people in different ways,” said Brockmann. “You’re looking for a kid who, perhaps on the face of it, looks quite ordinary but is ultimately very extraordinary.”

HBO's 'Harry Potter' Behind-the-Scenes Special Shows Off the Rigorous Casting Process, Never Before Seen Creatures, Dumbledore's Robe and More