Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO
A New Crew of Wizards
Meet the three young actors starring in the new Harry Potter TV show.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published in the U.S. in 1998. Nearly 30 years later, the magical world of Hogwarts is still popular. Many kids can’t get enough of Harry and his pals Hermione and Ron.
Now a new Harry Potter TV show is set to premiere in December. Hundreds of kids tried out for the main roles. Dominic McLaughlin (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Stout (Ron) got the parts. The actors recently spoke to Scholastic News.
Courtesy of Aidan Monaghan/HBO
Left to right: Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout
Scholastic News: What was your reaction when you found out you got the part?
Dominic: I was shocked and happy. I was with my dad. We were both so stunned that we didn’t know what to say.
Alastair: I was shaking. It felt like a dream.
SN: What does it feel like to play such a popular character?
Alastair: It feels like quite a lot of pressure. It’s just like, “Am I going to do this right?” I want to bring Ron to life in my own sort of way.
SN: What was one of your favorite moments from filming?
Alastair: I had a stunt where I get flung backward from a chessboard. The buildup felt like when you’re at the top of a roller coaster. Then you get flung backward and your heart drops. But it was fun!
SN: There have been eight Harry Potter movies. How does the TV show compare to the films?
Arabella: The show includes more material from the books. We go into a lot more detail and spend more time with the characters. I think big fans of the books are really going to enjoy that.
SN: Why do you think Harry Potter is still so popular?
Dominic: It appeals to people of all ages. There are lots of different themes that people relate to: happiness, sadness, fear, love, grief.
Arabella: The books just got better and more thrilling as the adventure continued. It’s such a magical place to be. Imagine there’s this school out there where you can cast spells and fly on broomsticks!
Note: The interviews have been edited and shortened.
1. What does the author mean when she writes that “many kids can’t get enough of Harry and his pals”?
2. According to the interview, how will the new Harry Potter TV series be different from the films?
3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Harry Potter by the Numbers”?
