HBO has added three key young actors to Season 2 of its Harry Potter TV series, locking in Tom Riddle, Dobby and a new Ginny Weasley ahead of production this fall. Billy Barratt will play the teenage Tom Riddle, Lenny Rush takes on Dobby, and Bonnie Hill steps in as Ginny. The new trio joins Kit Harington, who is set to play Gilderoy Lockhart. According to Deadline, the second season is based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and is scheduled to begin filming before the first season premieres on Dec. 25.
Billy Barratt Cast as Teen Tom Riddle
Barratt’s casting puts a younger actor in the role of Voldemort’s teenage self, closer to the age described in the book. He is still in his teens, while Tom Riddle is 16 in the story. That marks a contrast with the film version, where Christian Coulson was 23 when he took the part. Barratt already has a notable career start, including an International Emmy win at age 13 for Reasonable Child. In Season 2, Tom Riddle becomes central to the mystery through the enchanted diary that draws Ginny into his orbit.
Lenny Rush Takes Over as Dobby
Rush, 17, has been cast as Dobby, the loyal house-elf who plays a major role in Chamber of Secrets. HBO has not said how the character will appear on screen this time. The films used a CGI creation voiced by Toby Jones, but the series has left open whether Dobby will be fully animated again, use motion capture, or involve prosthetics. Rush’s addition points to a younger interpretation of the character, matching the broader casting approach for the show’s new generation of Hogwarts figures.
Bonnie Hill Replaces Gracie Cochrane as Ginny
Hill will now play Ginny Weasley after Gracie Cochrane’s exit from the role between seasons. As reported by Variety, Cochrane left “due to unforeseen circumstances.” The recasting arrives just as Ginny becomes far more important to the story. In the second book, she starts her first year at Hogwarts and becomes entangled with Tom Riddle through the magical diary. That plotline makes Ginny one of the emotional anchors of the season, giving Hill a substantial entrance into the series.
Season 2 Builds on a Growing Ensemble
The event’s expanding cast continues to take shape around Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron. The wider ensemble also includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville, and Lox Pratt as Draco. Francesca Gardiner writes and executive produces the series, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes. Jon Brown has also been elevated to co-showrunner for Season 2, adding another major creative shift behind the scenes.
