HBO’s Harry Potter Is Officially Introducing Its Coolest Movies-Omitted Character Sooner Than Expected

A character missing from films

The Harry Potter films made changes to the books for reasons including runtime, filmmaking choices, technology and budget. HBO’s remake has eight episodes per season for now, and is expected to be among the most expensive television shows in history.

The series has cast Peeves, played by Peter Serafinowicz, and has added scenes such as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger receiving their Hogwarts letters. Harry Gilby has also been cast as Charlie Weasley, alongside Hannah Chinn and Jasper Talbot as Lily and James Potter.

What makes Charlie stand out

Charlie appears directly in only two books and has little impact on the plot. He was a Gryffindor Prefect and Quidditch captain, played Seeker, and later went to Romania to work with dragons.

An early role in season one

Charlie was almost entirely absent from the movies, appearing for about a second in a photograph in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Alex Crockford played him in that brief appearance. The films also changed the Norbert storyline, having Albus Dumbledore arrange the dragon’s departure from Hogwarts.

Reports indicate Gilby will appear in the first season, although Charlie does not appear in the books until The Goblet of Fire. The Norbert storyline could provide a way to bring him on screen earlier, and the show’s added time with the Weasleys may give him more room to develop.

Building toward the Quidditch Cup

Introducing Charlie early could help establish him before the Quidditch World Cup in the fourth season. The Goblet of Fire movie cut much of the book’s material, including scenes involving Ludo Bagman and the house-elf Winky, as well as an Oliver Wood cameo.

A larger role for Charlie could help the series build toward a more expansive adaptation of the tournament. It may also indicate that other characters whose roles were reduced in the movies will receive more attention.