Nick Frost says landing the role of Hagrid in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series wasn’t just luck, it was something he had actively been trying to make happen long before the casting was announced.
The British comedian, now officially set to take the place of Hogwarts’ beloved groundskeeper, revealed that his journey to the role began months earlier with a very personal ritual.
In a January 29 interview, Frost said the idea came from his partner, who encouraged him to try to manifest the role originally played by the late Robbie Coltrane.
Taking the suggestion seriously, Frost fully immerses himself in the wizarding world during the holidays.
“So last Christmas I watched all the Sky Harry Potter films back to back, while writing the word ‘Hagrid’ 7,000 times,” he said.
This unusual effort appears to have paid off.
Frost was officially cast in April 2025 and has been working on the series since production began in July.
Its connection with Harry PotterBut it goes well beyond this single moment of manifestation.
He explained that revisiting films is a long-standing family tradition.
“I’ve seen all the movies,” he said, adding that they watch them together every Christmas. “We start on December 20 and finish a week and a half later.”
Frost has also been open about how seriously he approaches the role and the responsibility that comes with it.
Speaking earlier in June 2025, he discussed the legacy Coltrane left behind and made it clear he wasn’t trying to replicate what came before.
“Even though I’m definitely aware of what happened before me in terms of Robbie [Coltrane]It’s an incredible performance, I will never try to be Robbie,” Frost said.
“I’m going to try to do something – not ‘different’, I think you have to be respectful of the subject – but within that there is room for details.”
He believes the long-form television format will allow him to explore Hagrid in more depth than ever before.
Frost described his personal reading of the character, saying: “I always read Hagrid because he’s like a lovable, lost, violent, funny, warm child.”
He added that adapting one book per season opens up space to dig into those layers, which is something he’s particularly passionate about.
Humor is also central to how Frost plans to portray the fan-favorite character. He aims for a version of Hagrid that fully embraces his emotional range.
“I want it to be funny, cheeky, scary, protective and childish. That’s what I intend to do,” he said.
HBO’s Harry Potter series is currently in development and set to premiere in 2027, with Frost’s take on Hagrid already drawing attention to the passion and intention behind it.
