HBO’s Harry Potter TV show will have some deviations from both the books and the movies. That’s the necessity of adaptation: the longer format means it can include things the films left out, while also expanding upon events and characters from the books. The Harry Potter remake will feature multiple characters not in the movies, such as Charlie Weasley (though he presumably won’t be seen in Season 1), Professor Binns (played by Richard Durden), and Peeves (who hasn’t been cast yet, but should be turning up in the first season).
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Those represent interesting and important changes to the Harry Potter movies, which should allow for a more faithful adaptation, but they’re also seemingly making some book changes too. The TV show has cast several roles, with filming well underway, including Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge. Both are key characters, with one being Draco’s father and a Death Eater, the other the Minister of Magic, and yet neither appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It might just be that they were announced early and won’t appear until Season 2, but that would be at odds with every other casting reveal so far, and it seems rather unnecessary.
How Lucius Malfoy & Cornelius Fudge Could Fit Into Harry Potter Season 1
So, assuming Lucius and Fudge are in Season 1, what could their roles be? The movies didn’t make this change, but the books do give a couple of clues as to how they might be included. Both of the characters are mentioned in The Philosopher’s Stone, with Draco making some remarks about his father that give us an idea of exactly what kind of a person he is before he even turns up, and the influence he may wield, while we also hear from Hagrid that the Minister “pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin’ fer advice.”
The simplest way to introduce Lucius early would be to have him appear in Diagon Alley with Draco, which is where Harry first encounters the boy who’ll become his enemy. Given that Lucius accompanies Draco there in The Chamber of Secrets, it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to turn up. The only issue is that his first meeting with Harry, alongside the Weasleys, is pretty great, and it’d be a shame to lose it, though it could be an alternate scene of just the Malfoys. An alternative is that he’ll appear in a Board of Governors meeting at Hogwarts, where we could see him attempting to throw his weight around to get his own way.
It’s also possible that Lucius’ scenes will include Fudge, too. We know the pair discuss political matters and that Malfoy attempts to curry favor with the Ministry and help shape things there, so it could be a scene showing some of that, perhaps with Dumbledore involved too. Certainly, Fudge’s presence could involve the Hogwarts Headmaster, either asking him for advice or discussing the hiding of the Philosopher’s Stone and possible threats to stealing it. It could be interesting to establish their relationship early, which would better show just how much it changes when Fudge refuses to see reason about Lord Voldemort’s return later on.
However Lucius and Fudge fit into the first season of the Harry Potter remake, it’s unlikely they’ll have a lot of scenes or major roles. It’ll more likely be a case of expansion, allowing for some extra character development and worldbuilding. That itself isn’t a bad thing, though, as it means it can set itself apart not only from the movies, but the books as well, ensuring it really is delivering its own take on the story.
The Harry Potter remake is expected to be released on HBO and HBO Max in 2027.
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