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17 Sept 2025

Leitrim's Leo Earley cast in HBO’s Harry Potter series

Leo Earley brings his storytelling magic to HBO’s new series.

Leitrim's Leo Earley heads to Hollywood cast as Hogwarts student in HBO’s Harry Potter

Leo on stage at RTÉ’s Late Late Toy Show last December.

Leo Earley, a bright young talent from Drumsna, County Leitrim, is cast as Hogwarts student Seamus Finnegan in HBO’s much-anticipated live-action reboot of the Harry Potter saga. At just seven years old, Leo is making the leap from local
stages to a major Hollywood production.

Last Christmas, Leo took to the stage of RTÉ’s Late Late Toy Show and captivated viewers with his winning tale. Fresh from being crowned champion of the under-12 storytelling Fleadh, he delivered a spirited performance that stole the show and
earned him nationwide recognition.

According to Deadline.com Cameras will start rolling soon at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in the UK. Harry Potter showrunner Francesca Gardinerthe revealed in December that the Dursleys will be much younger in the show than they were in the movies. The series has been described as a “faithful adaptation” of the beloved books and is being exec produced by the source material’s author J.K. Rowling.

Seamus Finnegan—originally portrayed by Devon Murray in the Warner Bros. films—is beloved for his fiery duelling style and unmistakable Irish brogue. Earlier this spring, Leo auditioned in Dublin alongside hundreds of hopefuls. The news of Leo’s HBO casting has electrified his hometown. Due to his casting in the TV series, he was forced to withdraw from his regular schools and enrol in a mini-school during the breaks in filming when he is not needed. For Leo, donning the Gryffindor robes is more than just a role—it’s proof that dreams can start anywhere. If a boy from Leitrim can go from the Late Late Toy Show to Hollywood.

READ MORE Hypothermic hikers rescued by Sligo-Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team

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