HBO’s upcomingHarry PotterTV show has been hinting at the new and exciting casting choices for the characters who make up the magical world. TheHarry Pottercasting rumors revealthat the series will continue casting predominantly British actors in the roles. This is unsurprising as the original movies followed this trend, and the show wants to take the best parts of the films and use them to create a bigger and more detailed world.Part of this journey will involve bringing book characters omitted from the movies to life onscreenfor the show, like the infamous ghost Peeves.
Finding theperfect Peeves actor for theHarry Potterserieswill require a comedic actor with plenty of experience who isn’t afraid to make a fool of themselves. Additionally, since Peeves is known for causing trouble and has little loyalty to anyone but himself, the performer needs to have a bit of a dark side as well.British humor is iconically dark and tongue-in-cheek,which will be perfect for the characterization of Peeves throughout the show. Though he doesn’t have the largest role, any famous comedian would be ideal in this bit part as an Easter egg for audiences.
10Ricky Gervais
Known for The Office (UK) (2001–2003)
BeforeThe Officebecame one of the biggest sitcoms in the U.S., the original U.K. version was a lot darker and edgier, thanks to Ricky Gervais.Gervais played the Michael character, David,and pushed the show even further in terms of cringe content and humiliation for the characters. As one of the creators of the series, it’s clear that Gervais' style of comedy is infused into the project and that he has a sharp and cutting sense of humor, which would be perfect for Peeves.
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Additionally,Gervais has good name recognition and is the kind of actor that audiences would instantly notice onscreen,which is vital for ghosts, who can sometimes get lost in the background. It’s unlikely that Gervais would be interested in a role any larger than Peeves, as this would prevent him from touring or doing the smaller comedy projects he often tackles during the year. However, a fun cameo every now and then to cause trouble sounds just like the performer.
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The Office
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The Office is a British mockumentary sitcom that aired from 2001 to 2003, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It chronicles the daily lives of the employees at Wernham Hogg, a fictional paper company in Slough. Ricky Gervais stars as the bumbling and often inappropriate office manager, David Brent, whose antics provide a humorous yet poignant look at office culture and interpersonal relationships.
9Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg owes a lot of his success to early collaborations with Edgar Wright onShaun of the DeadandHot Fuzz. Since these breakout projects,Pegg has had his hand in many prominent franchises likeStar Trek,as well as the occasional TV role, like his recent feature inThe Boys. Though Pegg is typically typecast as the bumbling but well-meaning sidekick, there’s still lots of wit and potential inside every performance, proving that he could take on a more malicious character.
Most recently,Pegg has been making his name with theMission: Impossiblefranchisealongside Tom Cruise. SinceMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningis the franchise’s end, Pegg will have a lot more time to join exciting new projects like theHarry Potterseries. It’s surprising that Pegg never lent his talents to the original movies, but this has ended up becoming a good thing since Peeves isn’t the only role that Pegg could bring to life in the show.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
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Shaun of the Dead
From director Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, an ambitionless slacker who one day finds his world overrun by zombies. From a script by Wright and Pegg, Shaun of the Dead injects comedy into a typically horror-focused subgenre as Shaun and his lazy friend Ed (Nick Frost) attempt to rescue Shaun’s estranged girlfriend and make it through the apocalypse unscathed.
8Matt Berry
Known for What We Do In The Shadows (2019–2024)
Matt Berry knows a lot about being part of a TV show that originally started as a film,asWhat We Do In The Shadowsbegan as the 2014 movie starring Taika Waititi. However, in the years since, theWhat We Do In The Shadowsshow has grown beyond the popularity of the film and taken on a life of its own. A large part of this is thanks to the fantastic actors who bring the vampires to life, with Berry portraying Laszlo, a main character since season 1 and a vital part of the cast’s chemistry.
Taking part in a new series likeHarry Potterwould continue exposing Berry to wider audiences, not to mention that he already has lots of experience playing a hilarious supernatural entity.
Now that theWhat We Do In The Shadowsseries has ended, it begs the question of what’s next for Berry and his fellow castmates. ThoughWhat We Do In The Shadowsis Berry’s most famous project,he’s also been in many off-beat British comedy shows likeThe IT CrowdandToast of London. Taking part in a new series likeHarry Potterwould continue exposing Berry to wider audiences, not to mention that he already has lots of experience playing a hilarious supernatural entity.
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What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows, released in 2019, is a mockumentary series exploring the nightly lives of a group of centuries-old vampires residing in Staten Island. The comedic show delves into their interactions with each other and the modern world, providing a humorous take on the vampire genre.
7Romesh Ranganathan
Known for The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan (2018–2024)
Though Romesh Ranganathan isn’t as popular outside the U.K. as some of the other actors who could play Peeves, he’s a fantastic comedian who deserves an international breakout on the scale of theHarry Pottershow. His reality documentary series,The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, is a hilarious addition to the travel series genreand showcases how Ranganathan can adapt to any situation and make it comedic. Like many British comedians, he also has plenty of experience on game shows.
In most of his work, Ranganathan has played himself, or a heightened version of him, but his personality already lends itself to a performance as Peeves. Sincehe often goes for such a deadpan and faux-serious style,he would bring an interesting twist to the character of Peeves, which would be refreshing and help the series stand apart. Conversely, audiences could see a new side of him if Ranganathan leans into the slapstick and over-the-top aspects of the poltergeist.
6Andy Serkis
Known for Lord of the Rings (2001–2003)
Andy Serkis is no stranger to being part of an enormous franchise with lots of pressure riding on his performance. Many of the characters that Serkis portrays are created using CGI and other visual effects. However, this never hinders his performance. If anything,Serkis thrives when he gets to make exaggerated facial expressions and create unique voices,like in his role as Gollum inThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise, as well as his performance in the recentPlanet of the Apesmovies.
Though Serkis is known for his dramatic roles, he has flawless comedic timing that would make Peeves memorable.
While it’s not confirmed how theHarry Potterseries plans on executing the visuals of the ghosts,it’s almost certain that the actor would be dealing with CGI or motion capture in some way.This makes Serkis perfect for the role, as he’s consistently asked to give nuanced performances while heavily made up or dealing with advanced technology. Additionally, though Serkis is known for his dramatic roles, he has flawless comedic timing that would make Peeves memorable.
The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
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The Return of the King (2003)
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The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
5Nish Kumar
Known for The Mash Report (2017–2020)
As one of the more unknown comedians on the list, at least on the international stage, Nish Kumar would have the opportunity to gain recognition if he joined the cast ofHarry Potter. It would be smart for the series to cast slightly more niche comedians like Kumar since he would have the opportunity to play Peeves however he saw fit, and audiences wouldn’t have preconceived notions about him. Additionally, since Peeves isn’t a major character,Kumar wouldn’t have to step away from his live performances.
With experience in stand-up, hosting, and podcasting, Kumar knows how to make himself memorableand cut right to the meat of an issue. Understanding how to play to a live audience is helpful in comedic TV series and movies, as it gives the actors the ability to improvise and play off the performances of the other characters. Since so much of his comedy stems from his perspective on politics and world events, this could be an interesting angle to add to Peeves' characterization.
4Toby Jones
Known for The Hunger Games (2012–2015)
One of Toby Jones' most recent prominent parts might have been part ofThe Hunger Gamesfranchise, but the actor has been a seminal part of movies, television, and theater throughout his career. British actors' theatrical roots are a large part of why their performances are so often hailed as realistic and immersive. Most audiences would be hard-pressed not to find at least one project on Jones' extensive list of work that they haven’t seen. In fact,the actor has already been part of theHarry Potteruniverse.
As the voice of Dobby, Jones disappeared into the role and created a character that audiences have been deeply affected by sinceThe Chamber of Secretspremiered in 2002.
As the voice of Dobby, Jones disappeared into the role and created a character that audiences have been deeply affected by sinceThe Chamber of Secretspremiered in 2002. This familiarity with the world ofHarry Potterand the authoritative connection he would provide to the original films would only increase the excitement for the TV show. Additionally,paying tribute to his work in the first part of the franchise would be a great way to tie everything together.
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The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
3Peter Capaldi
Known for Doctor Who (2005–Present)
ManyDoctor Whofans mourned the loss of Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor when his tenure came to an end, butPeter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor is an underrated additionto the fantastic sci-fi franchise. As his seasons progressed, he only became more iconic and tackled some of the biggest transitions of the modern era ofDoctor Who. One of the reasons he was chosen is because he’s always been a big part of British film and television, especially in the comedic sphere.
The British TV seriesThe Thick of Itis one of Capaldi’s most recognizable roles outside of the Doctor, and it demonstrates just how sharp and funny the actor is. However, his time inDoctor Whomakes the best case for tapping him to take on the role of Peeves. Though sci-fi and fantasy are different animals, being part ofsuch a fantastical and outlandish world likeDoctor Whodefinitely prepared Capaldi for a magical one.
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2Robert Sheehan
Known for The Umbrella Academy (2019–2024)
If theHarry PotterTV show casting department decides to go for a younger actor for Peeves, it’s hard to argue that Sheehan wouldn’t be the perfect choice.Known for his offbeat fantasy seriesThe Umbrella Academy,in which he plays the unstable but hilariously endearing Klaus, Sheehan first rose to prominence thanks to the superhero TV seriesMisfits. Now thatThe Umbrella Academyhas come to an end, it’s time for Sheehan to take on his next challenge, and it’s clear that fantasy suits him.
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Giving Peeves a comedic style like Sheehan’s, which leans toward maudlin and existentialism, would be a fun subversionof the slightly one-dimensional ghost from the books. Giving Peeves a little bit of a backstory and finding out why he likes making trouble so much could be a fun addition to the show. It wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a good deal of crossover between fans ofThe Umbrella Academyand audiences who will tune intoHarry Potter.
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The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy is based on the comic book of the same name created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Hargreeves — collectively known as The Umbrella Academy — were born with superpowers, and their adoptive father utilized their abilities. However, as they grew older, the siblings grew apart as they dealt with their trauma. They are brought back together after their father dies and Five returns from the future with grave news: The world will end, and The Umbrella Academy has to stop it before it happens.
1Richard Ayoade
Known for The IT Crowd (2006–2013)
Seeing Richard Ayoade, who made his name playing a more awkward character inThe IT Crowd,step into a fun and stylized role in Wes Anderson’s recent short films was an exciting development. The sitcom’s success has played into Ayoade’s rise to fame, ashe ended up winning a BAFTA for his performance.However, his talents don’t stop at performing in front of the screen, and Ayoade’s directorial projects have been just as interesting and successful.
His directorial debut,Submarine, was also written by Ayoade and is a cult classic praised for its insight into the trials and tribulations of adolescence. This experience in the many facets of film and television makes Ayoade uniquely qualified to join the cast ofHarry Potter. He would be a hilarious Peeves because of his acting and comedic timing while also understanding the level of work that goes into a project of that scale.
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The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom that follows an Information Technology department led by a new manager that doesn’t know IT. The group works in the basement of the building and is typically ignored in every social gathering. The crew deals with clueless questions relatable to several IT situations and their awkwardness towards other people, something their manager strives to help them with.
