HBO Harry Potter ©HBO

HBO Harry Potter , IBTimes

In early 2024, the announcement of an “open casting” for the new Harry Potter television reboot sent waves of excitement through fan communities — especially families with children who dreamed of becoming the next Harry, Hermione, or Ron. Promoted across social media and endorsed by author J.K. Rowling herself, the message was clear: anyone could apply.

The casting was not global, as some headlines implied, but strictly limited to children based in the UK and Ireland. Applicants were directed to a U.S.-based casting site where they were asked to upload a self-taped audition — and to pay a $20 submission fee.

Over 32,000 children applied, according to producers. But when the final cast was announced, all three chosen leads were revealed to be professionally trained, represented children with existing screen or stage credits.

The selected actors — Dominic Clarke (Harry), Arabella Stanton (Hermione), and Alastair Brammer (Ron) — are clearly talented. Clarke appeared in the film Grow, Arabella led the West End production of Matilda the Musical, and Brammer featured in a commercial for Jersey Royal potatoes.

But none were unknowns. None were “discovered” through the open call in the traditional sense. As a result, many parents who paid the submission fee — especially those whose children were unrepresented — are now questioning whether they were misled from the outset.

Assuming each of the 32,000 submissions paid the standard $20 fee, the casting site brought in an estimated $640,000. And yet, very little has been revealed about how many tapes were actually viewed, how decisions were made, or how the winners were shortlisted.

Who did the reviewing? Were all tapes truly watched? Or were insiders always favored?

A UK-based talent agent (who asked to remain anonymous) told us:

“The odds of an unrepresented actor being cast in a lead role — especially in a high-stakes show like this — are virtually zero. An open call is often more PR than pipeline.”

Charging for casting submissions is not illegal, but it remains controversial — especially when the hopefuls are children. Many industry watchdogs have long criticized “pay-to-play” audition platforms for profiting off dreams without offering any clear path to opportunity.

And in this case, transparency appears to have been lacking. Families were given hope — and many invested time, money, and emotional energy — only to find themselves locked out of a process that may have been more performative than practical.

The Harry Potter universe has always been about the underdog — the orphan who rises, the overlooked child who finds a place in the magical world. But the casting process for this series reboot tells a different story: one of exclusivity, industry connections, and polished professionalism.

In the end, thousands of children believed they had a chance. They submitted tapes. They paid money. They imagined the possibility.

But instead of a golden ticket, what many got was a lesson in how tightly the doors to magic are guarded — and how sometimes, “open casting” means little more than an open wallet.