HBO's Harry Potter TV series has announced fresh casting for its second season, with actor Rafe Spall taking on the role of Arthur Weasley. The casting is seen as a significant coup for the show, given Spall's current run of acclaimed performances, and it brings notable star power to a beloved character as the remake seeks to live up to its predecessors in print and on film.

Spall, 43, joins newcomers Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey and Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle, though his character won't appear until Season 2, since Arthur Weasley is first introduced at the start of the second book. Filming is already under way, though a premiere date remains unconfirmed, and Spall is juggling the role alongside upcoming projects including Sherlock Holmes in Sky's The Death of Sherlock Holmes and the UK Prime Minister in Steven Moffat's Number 10, both due in 2027.