Harry Potter Gambling: Yes, It’s a Real Thing You Can Bet On
Warner Brothers Dive into World of Harry Potter in 2024, Bet on Cast Now!
Besides the return of the Star Wars trilogy in 1999 when Episode I – The Phantom Menace thrust audience right back into a franchise that laid dormant for 16 years, you would be hard-pressed to find a group of fans that are anticipating the return of their beloved series more than the Harry Potter movie audience.
Based on seven books by J.K. Rowling, the new adaptation will allow HBO to go deeper into the books, which the films simply could not. The show will feature a whole new cast spanning over 10 years, and Rowling herself will be one of the executive producers, ensuring the integrity that most of us fear will be lost with a re-cast. Until then, Potter fans can wager on who will make up the new Harry Potter cast. Let’s continue our Harry Potter gambling preview with a look at who will step into three of the biggest roles.
Who Will Play Lord Voldemort?
The role of Tom Riddle, better known as Voldemort will play a key role in the overall acceptance of the new series to old school Potter fans. Ralph Fiennes (The Menu, No Time To Die), mastered Rowlings’ vision for The Dark Lord. Who could pick up where Fiennes left off, the odds are in. Bill Nighy (+300), an English actor and comedian, is the favorite to get the role. His versatility was fully displayed when he played Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He is already a familiar face to Harry Potter after playing Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (Think “These are dark times”) speech.
It does raise the question of why WB would cast him as Voldemort when Scrimgeour’s story has so much left to tell after limited screen time in the films. Behind Nighy is Benedict Cumberbatch (+400), Gary Oldman (+500), and the fans’ choice of Fiennes himself. If you want to get crazy, Nicholas Cage is +1800. It was never going to happen. Let’s continue our Harry Potter gambling preview by looking at who could fill the shoes of two other massive characters.
Nick Frost, Charles Dance Favored to Play Massive Roles
Perhaps there wasn’t a more waived character in the eight films than Rubeus Hagrid, played by Robbie Coltrane, who passed away in 2022. His character was one of the first to appear in the films while acting as Harry’s mentor and father figure. Nick Frost (+200) is favored to step into the boots of the half-giant. Frost is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter (Ice Age, Doctor Who) who fits Rowlings’ narrative of British-only actors. Few are more British than Frost, who has displayed his ability to change his dialect to fit the role, something significant when playing Hagrid. Like Coltrane, whoever has that immediate likability factor will get this role, which is why Frost is favored. Rory McCann is +400, Nick Offerman +500, and Zach Galifianakis (+650).
Last but certainly not least is who will play Albus Dumbledore. There is no secret that this series will feature a more diverse cast, and the word is that it starts with the headmaster, although the odds don’t bear that out. Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) is favored (+200), Brian Cox (Succession, X2: X-Men United) at +400, with Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones, The Crown) and Jared Harris (Morbius, Sherlock Holmes) at +500. Of those, Brian Cox looks and feels like a believable Dumbledore. There will be some changes that fans will have to deal with, but we’re confident that Rowlings will stay as committed to the integrity of the original films as possible. That does it for our Harry Potter gambling opportunities; we’ll keep you updated as casting rolls on.
For entertainment news, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads.
Follow us on Twitter
