The star-studded cast of a new Harry Potter adaptation now includes Keira Knightley as one of the most despised characters in the franchise.
As fans await the upcoming HBO adaptation of the best-selling novels, last month Audible announced that it was in the process of working on the recording of the immersive audio series, Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions.
Set to be rolled out on Audible in the coming months – it will involve the release of the audiobooks with ‘original music and real-world sound capture to create an immersive audio experience’ and involves more than 200 actors taking part.
It’s already been revealed that Albus Dumbledore will be voiced by Hugh Laurie, while Matthew Macfadyen will play Lord Voldemort.
Meanwhile Riz Ahmed joined the cast as Professor Snape alongside Scottish actress Michelle Gomez, who will voice Professor McGonagall, and Cush Jumbo as the narrator.
A few weeks on, several more names have been thrown into the mix – including Keira Knightley, who will voice the sadistic Dolores Umbridge, who was played by Imelda Staunton in the films.
The 40-year-old rose to fame in Bend It Like Beckham, going on to star in Love Actually, the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Pride & Prejudice, and Atonement.
Here’s all of the other actors who will also feature in the upcoming adaptation too.
Kit Harington as Professor Lockhart
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is joining another huge franchise – this time taking on the role of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.
Played by Kenneth Branagh in the movies, the character was the only that JK Rowling said she ever based on a real-life person.
In the stories, he is a popular author and wizarding celebrity who has written several books about his adventures encountering dark creatures and serves as the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor for Chamber of Secrets.
However, he is far from a beloved figure, with his shameless self-promotion and arrogance rubbing many who encounter him the wrong way, with it eventually being discovered he is a fraud.
Iwan Rheon as Professor Lupin
Welsh actor Iwan Rheon – best known for starring in Misfits – will play Remus Lupin.
He first appeared in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and was also a schoolfriend of Harry’s father James.
Played by David Thewlis in the movies, his character eventually met a devastating death.
Ruth Wilson as Bellatrix Lestrange
It’s hard to separate the crazed and terrifying Bellatrix Lestrange from Helena Bonham Carter, who brought the character to life across the final four Harry Potter films.
But taking on the task of voicing her in the book recordings is Ruth Wilson – who has previously appeared in Jane Eyre, Luther, The Affair and His Dark Materials.
Ambika Mod as Nymphadora Tonks
Three years ago, Ambika Mod burst onto our screens with an unforgettable performance in the medical comedy-drama This is Going to Hurt.
Last year she again left audiences in tears when playing Emma Morley in the Netflix adaptation of David Nicholl’s novel One Day.
In Harry Potter, she will now voice Nymphadora Tonks – an Auror in the Ministry of Magic, who is also a spy for the Order of the Phoenix. She was played by Natalie Tena in the movies.
Leo Woodall as Bill Weasley
Also joining the cast is Ambika’s One Day co-star Leo Woodall, who has since appeared in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and the upcoming WWII drama Nuremberg.
He will be playing the eldest Weasley child – Bill – a role that saw Domhnall Gleeson rise to fame after playing him on the big screen.
After graduating from Hogwarts, Bill went on to work as a curse-breaker at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, before joining the right against Lord Voldemort in The Order of the Phoenix.
Simon Pegg as Arthur Weasley
Another member of the beloved Weasley family will be played by Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz’s Simon Pegg.
After Arthur Williams played the patriarch Arthur, Simon will now star as the character, also known for working for The Ministry of Magic.
James McAvoy as Mad-Eye Moody
Brendan Gleeson delighted audiences with his portrayal of Mad-Eye Moody, with the role now being handed to James McAvoy.
In a statement, he shared: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to bring the fiercely determined Mad-Eye Moody to life in these dynamic audio editions from Pottermore and Audible.
‘He’s a layered character, constantly shifting between battle-hardened intensity and unexpected moments of wisdom. Capturing his commanding presence was incredibly fun.’
The actor has previously appeared on screen in The Chronicles of Narnia, X-Men and His Dark Materials.
Gemma Whelan as Professor Sprout
Miriam Margolyes might have previously told people they shouldn’t be Harry Potter fans if ‘their balls have dropped’, but many fans are still just as obsessed with her turn as Head of Herbology at Hogwarts, Professor Pomona Sprout.
This time around she’ll be played by Game of Thrones alum Gemma Whelan, also known for starring in Upstart Crow, The End of the F***ing World, Killing Eve (2020), and DI Ray.
Matt Berry as Sir Cadogan
The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh and What We Do in the Shadows star Matt Berry will be playing a portrait hanging on a wall of Hogwarts in the series.
He’s taking on the role of Sir Cadogan – best known for challenging students and doing his best to display his bravery.
The first of the seven audiobooks, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will be released on November 4, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets on December 16.
The remaining books will be released monthly in the new year starting with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on January 13 2026, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire on February 10, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on March 10.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be out on April 14 with the final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, scheduled to be released on May 12.
Newcomers Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton (who is starring in the HBO adaptation) will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger respectively in the first three audiobooks, while Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan, and Nina Barker-Francis will voice the trio in the final four.
Last week, Audible and Pottermore also announced Mark Addy as Hagrid, Alex Hassell as Lucius Malfoy, Daniel Mays as Dobby, and Sara and Avni Deshmukh as the Patil Twins.
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