Nick Frost’s road to becoming HBO’s new Hagrid seems to have been plucked straight from the pages of a Harry Potter book. The actor has explained that his casting was not just about callbacks and auditioning—it was also about a pinch of believing, a whole lot of repetition, and a marathon of Harry Potter films.
Nick Frost recently explained that before he was cast as the new HBO wizard, he actually watched all eight Harry Potter films back to back on television and wrote the word “Hagrid” 7,000 times. Not as a joke or a PR stunt—because that’s what it looks like—but because his partner had actually suggested it as a way to “manifest” the role, and Nick Frost went all in.
Nick Frost reveals unusual manifestation ritual
“I’ve seen all the films. We go through them all as a family during Christmas every year. We start on 20 December and finish a week and a half later. Before I was cast as Hagrid, my partner suggested trying to manifest it. So last Christmas, I watched all the films back to back on the Sky Harry Potter channel, while writing out the word ‘Hagrid’ 7,000 times.”
“So, I’m seeing these photographs, and [Nick Frost is] wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like, ‘What’s the point?’ I thought the costumes and everything was going to be different, but it’s more of the same. It’s all going to be the same. It’s very flattering for me, because I’m like, That’s exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed. So, part of it is really exciting, so I’m excited to see what they’re going to do with it. Part of it is sort of deja vu all over again.”
“I said, ‘This is very surreal for me—you have to understand, Robbie Coltrane and I were so close.’ So it’s just weird, bizarre.”
Nick Frost is set to play the role of Rubeus Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter series reboot for HBO. He is stepping into the shoes made iconic by the late Robbie Coltrane. For Frost, the responsibility is not lost on him. He’s talked about his admiration for Coltrane and made it clear that he’s not trying to emulate that performance. He wants to respect the character and take it in a different direction.
With HBO choosing to adapt one book per season, Frost will have ample time to delve deeper into Hagrid’s character and find out what makes him tick. Hagrid, to Frost, is not just a gentle giant. He’s funny, emotional, protective, a little bit dangerous, and kind.
Not everyone has been entirely comfortable with the reboot. In fact, original Harry Potter director Chris Columbus confessed to feeling conflicted when he saw Frost in costume, noting how much it reminded him of the original design. Part of him thought it was flattering; part of him thought it was surreal, especially considering how close he was to Coltrane. Still, even he can’t deny his interest in the series.
To fans, the story of Frost feels strangely complete. A lifelong fan, embodying a role through sheer dedication, now playing one of the most beloved characters from the franchise into a new era. While the HBO Harry Potter series won’t arrive until 2027, with tales such as this, magic seems very much alive and well.
