Peter Serafinowicz Cast as Peeves in HBO's Harry Potter Series

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter television series has found its Peeves. Actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz will play the infamous Hogwarts poltergeist, a fan-favorite character who was notoriously cut from the original eight films. The casting confirms that the new series, led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, will restore elements from J.K. Rowling's books that never made it to the big screen.

Serafinowicz is known for scene-stealing turns in projects like Guardians of the Galaxy, Shaun of the Dead, and The Tick. His casting as the cackling, chaos-loving ghost promises to inject a dose of anarchic humor into the series, which aims to faithfully adapt one book per season over a planned decade-long run.

Peeves was originally intended to appear in 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with the late Rik Mayall filmed in the role, but his scenes were ultimately deleted. Since then, fans have campaigned for the trickster's return.

The HBO series, officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, wrapped principal photography and is currently in post-production for its December 25, 2026 premiere on HBO and HBO Max. A second season adapting Chamber of Secrets has already been greenlit.

Serafinowicz joins an ensemble that includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout as the iconic trio.

With Peeves locked in, attention now turns to the yet-to-be-cast Lord Voldemort — a role HBO says remains unfilled despite persistent rumors. Fans can expect more casting announcements as the Christmas Day premiere draws closer.