Taking on the role of Rubeus Hagrid is no small task — figuratively or literally. But for Nick Frost, the beloved British actor known for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it’s less about filling boots than finding soul. In HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, Frost is stepping into one of the franchise’s most cherished roles, and he’s doing so with a clear mission: to honour the legacy of the late Robbie Coltrane without simply mimicking his iconic performance.
"I’m really aware of what went before me," Frost told Collider, referring to Coltrane’s work across the original eight films. "I’m never going to copy that. You have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there’s scope for minutia."
For Frost, that space lies in emotional complexity. He describes Hagrid as "a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child" — a character ripe for deeper exploration. And with the series unfolding a book per season, he’ll have time to do just that.
The new series boasts a fresh cast of young wizards, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron. John Lithgow will don the robes of Dumbledore, with Paapa Essiedu bringing a fresh edge to Snape. With Succession director Mark Mylod at the helm and Francesca Gardiner (His Dark Materials) as showrunner, the show promises both reverence and reinvention — a balance that seems central to Frost’s own approach.
As the magical world gets a new lease of life on television, Frost’s grounded yet thoughtful vision of Hagrid might just be one of the series' most compelling elements. He won’t be trying to replicate lightning in a bottle — but he might just cast his own kind of spell.
