Twenty-five years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first introduced audiences to Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the Hogwarts students, the original cast is in a very different place.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have all moved well beyond their childhood roles, although their careers have taken surprisingly different directions. Tom Felton has actually returned to Draco Malfoy on stage, while Matthew Lewis has built a steady career away from Neville Longbottom.

And 2026 has been an unusually nostalgic year for Potter fans.

The first Harry Potter movie reached its 25th anniversary, the original films returned to cinemas for special screenings, the Weasley family reunited, and the new HBO adaptation is preparing to introduce an entirely new generation of Harry, Ron and Hermione. The upcoming series is scheduled to debut during Christmas 2026.

So where are the original Harry Potter actors now?

Here's what Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch and several other major Harry Potter cast members are doing in 2026.

Harry Potter Cast Then and Now: Quick Look

Daniel Radcliffe: From Harry Potter to a Very Different Career

Daniel Radcliffe will probably always be associated with Harry Potter. He was only 11 when he first appeared as the boy wizard, and he spent a decade growing up in one of the biggest film franchises in history.

But Radcliffe made a deliberate effort not to spend the rest of his career simply repeating the formula that made him famous.

After Harry Potter, he took on roles that were often dramatically different from Harry, including The Woman in Black, Kill Your Darlings, Swiss Army Man, Imperium, Jungle, Guns Akimbo and The Lost City. He also developed a substantial stage career.

One of his most memorable post-Potter projects was the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He later appeared in The Lifespan of a Fact and Merrily We Roll Along.

His willingness to experiment has continued into television.

In 2026, Radcliffe is starring in the comedy series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, playing filmmaker Arthur Tobin opposite Tracy Morgan. The series has been well received, and a second season is scheduled for November 2026.

Radcliffe has also remained involved in projects behind the scenes. In 2023, he executive-directed the documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, about his longtime stunt double and friend.

Interestingly, Radcliffe has also been supportive of the young actors taking over the roles in the new Harry Potter series. In 2026, he asked the media not to constantly compare the new Harry, Ron and Hermione actors with himself, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

Is Daniel Radcliffe returning to the new Harry Potter series?

No.

Radcliffe is not returning as Harry Potter in the new HBO adaptation.

The role has gone to Dominic McLaughlin, with Arabella Stanton playing Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout playing Ron Weasley. The new series is being developed as a fresh adaptation of the books rather than a continuation of the original movies.

For Radcliffe, that seems intentional. His career after Harry Potter has been about proving he can be much more than one character.

Emma Watson: What Happened to Hermione?

Emma Watson's career after Harry Potter has perhaps taken the most unexpected path of the original trio.

Unlike Radcliffe and Grint, Watson has largely stepped away from acting in recent years.

Her major post-Potter roles included The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring, The Circle, Beauty and the Beast and Greta Gerwig's critically acclaimed Little Women.

Beauty and the Beast was particularly significant commercially, while Little Women gave Watson the opportunity to work with an ensemble that included Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet and Meryl Streep.

But after Little Women in 2019, Watson entered an extended acting hiatus.

That doesn't mean she disappeared completely.

Watson has remained involved in environmental and social causes and has made occasional public appearances. In June 2026, she appeared at London Climate Action Week alongside Prince William and Benedict Cumberbatch, participating in a discussion connected to environmental storytelling and transparency.

Will Emma Watson return to acting?

Possibly, but there is no confirmed major acting comeback as of September 2026.

Watson has previously made it clear that she still loves acting but has struggled with parts of the modern film business, particularly the promotional side of the job. In a previous interview, she said she misses the creative process of acting but not some of the pressures surrounding it.

That distinction is important.

Emma Watson hasn't announced that she has permanently retired from acting. She has simply become much more selective and private about her professional life.

For fans wondering why Hermione hasn't been appearing in new movies every year, the answer is relatively straightforward: Watson has chosen a different pace of life.

Rupert Grint: Ron Weasley Is Coming Back

Rupert Grint's post-Harry Potter career has been quieter than Daniel Radcliffe's, but that doesn't mean he stopped working.

After playing Ron Weasley throughout all eight Harry Potter movies, Grint appeared in projects including Snatch, Sick Note, Servant and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.

His role in Apple TV+'s Servant was particularly notable because it gave audiences a very different version of the actor they knew as Ron.

In 2026, however, Grint made one of the biggest Harry Potter announcements of the year.

Rupert Grint is returning as Ron Weasley

Yes, but not in the new HBO series.

Grint will return as an adult Ron Weasley in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

His limited 17-week engagement at New York's Lyric Theatre is scheduled to run from February 2 through May 30, 2027.

This is particularly interesting because Cursed Child takes place 19 years after the events of the original Harry Potter story.

Grint has described the return as a full-circle experience, especially because he and Ron are now both fathers.

So while Rupert Grint hasn't returned to the Harry Potter movies, he is about to step back into Ron Weasley's shoes in a completely different medium.

And that makes his 2027 Broadway appearance one of the biggest original-cast Harry Potter reunions in recent years.

Tom Felton: Draco Malfoy Actually Came Back

If you're looking for the Harry Potter actor who has most directly returned to his original character, that would be Tom Felton.

Felton played Draco Malfoy throughout all eight Harry Potter films.

After the franchise ended, he continued acting in movies and television, appearing in projects across several genres.

In 2026, however, he did something Potter fans probably never expected when the original movies ended.

He returned as Draco Malfoy.

Tom Felton's Harry Potter comeback

Felton reprised Draco in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway.

His Broadway run began in November 2025 and was subsequently extended several times. His final extension keeps him in the role through January 3, 2027.

The return is especially significant because Felton is playing the adult version of Draco rather than simply recreating his teenage movie performance.

Felton has also embraced the transition between generations.

In 2026, he revealed that he had reached out to Lox Pratt, the young actor who will play Draco Malfoy in HBO's new Harry Potter series. Felton said he felt it was important to offer encouragement to the next actor taking on the role.

Meanwhile, Felton continues to work outside Harry Potter. He appeared in the 2026 horror/action movie They Will Kill You and has continued taking film and television roles.

Of all the original young Harry Potter stars, Felton has arguably had the most visible connection to the character in 2025 and 2026.

Matthew Lewis: Neville Longbottom Grew Up

Matthew Lewis' transformation remains one of the most famous Harry Potter "then and now" stories.

He played Neville Longbottom from the first movie through the final film, portraying a character who went from nervous and awkward Hogwarts student to one of the story's unexpected heroes.

But Lewis didn't want to remain trapped by Neville.

After Harry Potter, he appeared in projects including Me Before You, Ripper Street, The Syndicate, Bluestone 42 and Baby Done.

His career has largely focused on maintaining a steady presence in film and television rather than chasing enormous franchise roles.

In 2026, he remains active as an actor, with The Family Secret among his upcoming projects.

And despite moving on from Neville, Lewis hasn't rejected his connection to Harry Potter.

The official Wizarding World continues to feature him in anniversary content and interviews, including discussions about what might have happened if Neville had been the person targeted by Voldemort's prophecy.

For fans, Lewis is one of the clearest examples of an actor successfully growing beyond the character that made him famous.

Bonnie Wright: From Ginny Weasley to Director, Writer and Environmental Advocate

Bonnie Wright played Ginny Weasley, Harry's eventual wife, throughout the Harry Potter series.

Ginny was introduced in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and gradually became more important as the story progressed.

After Harry Potter, Wright appeared in several independent films, including The Philosophers and The Sea, but eventually shifted much of her attention toward directing, writing and environmental advocacy.

Her career has therefore moved in a different direction from the traditional Hollywood path.

Bonnie Wright in 2026

Wright remains active around environmental issues and creative work, while also embracing family life.

She and her husband, Andrew Lococo, welcomed their first child in 2023. In April 2026, Wright announced that they were expecting their second child.

She also reunited with other members of the Weasley family in 2026.

Bonnie Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps and Mark Williams returned to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film.

It was a fitting reunion because 2026 has essentially become a year-long celebration of the original franchise.

Evanna Lynch: Luna Lovegood Became an Author and Activist

Evanna Lynch joined the Harry Potter cast later than Radcliffe, Watson and Grint, making her debut as Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Her performance quickly became one of the most beloved parts of the later films.

After Harry Potter, Lynch continued acting on screen and stage, including roles in My Name Is Emily and Disco Pigs. She has also worked extensively as a voice performer.

But Lynch's work extends well beyond acting.

She is an animal welfare advocate, writer and podcaster. She created and hosted The ChickPeeps, a podcast exploring veganism and animal-related issues, and published her memoir The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting in 2021.

In 2026, she also voices Ameline in the animated series Dragon Striker.

She has also said she is working on her first novel.

Lynch's career is therefore one of the more interesting post-Potter journeys because she has combined acting with writing, activism and creative projects rather than pursuing only mainstream film roles.

Harry Melling: Dudley Dursley Had One of the Biggest Career Transformations

Harry Melling played Dudley Dursley, Harry's spoiled and bullying cousin.

At first glance, Dudley might seem like a relatively minor role compared with Harry, Hermione or Ron.

Melling, however, has developed one of the strongest critically recognized careers among the former child cast.

He appeared in The Queen's Gambit, The Old Guard, The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Pale Blue Eye, among other projects.

In 2026, Melling is appearing in Pillion, alongside Alexander Skarsgård.

The film represents another step away from his childhood image as Dudley and demonstrates just how dramatically his career has evolved since Harry Potter.

For fans searching for the Harry Potter actors who became successful character actors after the franchise, Melling is one of the strongest examples.

Alfred Enoch: From Dean Thomas to Major Television Roles

Alfred Enoch played Dean Thomas, one of Harry's Gryffindor classmates.

After Harry Potter, Enoch developed a particularly strong television and theatre career.

Many viewers will recognize him as Wes Gibbins in How to Get Away with Murder. He also played Raych Foss in Foundation and has maintained an extensive theatre career.

In 2026, Enoch appears in Netflix's Run Away, playing DS Isaac Fagbenle.

His career is a good reminder that not every Harry Potter actor needed another blockbuster franchise to remain successful.

Some simply built long-term careers in television and theatre.

Katie Leung: Cho Chang Is Now a Major TV and Voice Actress

Katie Leung played Cho Chang, Harry's Ravenclaw love interest.

Since Harry Potter, Leung has built a diverse career across television, film, theatre and voice acting.

She has appeared in productions including The Peripheral, Nightsleeper and Arcane, where she voices Caitlyn Kiramman in the English version.

But 2026 has been especially notable for Leung because she joined Bridgerton Season 4 as Lady Araminta Gun.

The role gives longtime Harry Potter fans another opportunity to see Leung in a very different kind of character.

Her career is another example of the original Potter cast finding substantial opportunities in television and streaming.

James and Oliver Phelps: Fred and George Found a New Harry Potter Job

James and Oliver Phelps played Fred and George Weasley, the mischievous twins responsible for some of the franchise's funniest moments.

Unlike some of their former co-stars, the twins have remained closely connected to the Harry Potter brand.

One of their biggest recent projects is Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.

The series is hosted by James and Oliver Phelps and brings professional pastry chefs to the actual Harry Potter film sets at Leavesden, where they compete to create elaborate Harry Potter-inspired cakes and edible displays.

This is a particularly smart way for the actors to remain connected to the franchise without simply replaying their movie characters.

Instead of being Fred and George again, they're now guides to the world that audiences remember.

Freddie Stroma: From Cormac McLaggen to The Rookie

Freddie Stroma played Cormac McLaggen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

His post-Potter career has been considerably broader than many casual fans may realize.

He has appeared in Pitch Perfect, Game of Thrones, Bridgerton, The Crew and Peacemaker. In 2026, he is also appearing in The Rookie.

Stroma is a good example of how a relatively small Harry Potter role can become just one credit in a much larger acting career.

What Happened to the Older Harry Potter Cast?

The original Harry Potter movies weren't only powered by their young stars.

The franchise also assembled an extraordinary group of established British and Irish actors.

Gary Oldman played Sirius Black, Ralph Fiennes played Lord Voldemort, Helena Bonham Carter played Bellatrix Lestrange, Jason Isaacs played Lucius Malfoy, Alan Rickman played Severus Snape and Michael Gambon played Albus Dumbledore.

Many continued major careers after Harry Potter.

Gary Oldman, for example, has become especially prominent in recent years through Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, where he plays Jackson Lamb. In September 2026, Oldman was also discussing the upcoming Harry Potter television series and expressing optimism about what the longer format could do with the original books.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in all eight films, died in 2016 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69.

His portrayal of Snape remains one of the most acclaimed performances in the franchise.

In 2026, fellow Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman again spoke publicly about Rickman, recalling his generosity toward children who visited the film sets.

Robbie Coltrane

Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, died in 2022 at the age of 72.

His performance remains one of the defining elements of the original films, particularly because Hagrid was one of the first characters to make Harry's new magical world feel real.

Michael Gambon

Michael Gambon took over the role of Albus Dumbledore after Richard Harris died in 2002.

Gambon played Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

He died in 2023 at the age of 82.

The new HBO series will introduce an entirely new Dumbledore, with John Lithgow taking on the role. Other newly announced Hogwarts staff include Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape and Nick Frost as Hagrid.

Where Are the Harry Potter Actors Now Compared With 2011?

The most interesting thing about the original Harry Potter cast is that there isn't one single post-Potter story.

Daniel Radcliffe became a deliberately unconventional actor.

Emma Watson largely stepped away from mainstream acting.

Rupert Grint worked selectively and is now preparing to return as Ron.

Tom Felton embraced Draco again on Broadway.

Matthew Lewis built a steady film and television career.

Bonnie Wright moved increasingly toward directing, writing and environmental work.

Evanna Lynch combined acting with writing and animal advocacy.

Harry Melling developed one of the most critically respected careers of the former child cast.

Alfred Enoch became a television and theatre regular.

Katie Leung became a prominent television and voice performer.

And James and Oliver Phelps found a way to remain part of the Wizarding World through Wizards of Baking.

In other words, there was no single way to escape Hogwarts.

Why 2026 Is Such an Important Year for Harry Potter Fans

It would be easy to think the Harry Potter story ended with Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011.

But 2026 has demonstrated that the franchise is still very much alive.

This year marks 25 years since the first Harry Potter film.

To celebrate, the original movies returned to theaters internationally between August 27 and September 3, with special screenings including previously unseen behind-the-scenes material in some markets.

The original cast has also been participating in anniversary events and retrospectives.

But the biggest change is happening at HBO.

The New Harry Potter Series Is About to Start a New Generation

The original Harry Potter actors are not being replaced because the studio wants to erase them.

Instead, the franchise is entering a new phase.

HBO's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will feature Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

The first season is planned as an eight-episode adaptation and is scheduled to debut during Christmas 2026.

The new series also has a major advantage over the movies: time.

The original films had to compress seven books into eight movies, often cutting subplots and character development to fit the runtime.

Gary Oldman recently suggested that the television format could allow the story to explore more of the material that the films couldn't fit.

That makes the new show particularly interesting for longtime fans.

The original cast gave audiences the definitive movie versions of these characters.

Now a new cast gets the chance to interpret them with more room to explore the books.

Will the Original Harry Potter Cast Return in the New HBO Series?

For the main trio, the answer is currently no.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are not reprising their original movie roles in HBO's new adaptation.

Rupert Grint is, however, returning to Ron through Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway in 2027.

Tom Felton has already returned as Draco Malfoy on Broadway and will continue performing the role through January 2027.

That creates an unusual situation for Harry Potter fans.

The franchise now has two generations of actors playing characters from the same universe.

The original stars are old enough to play the adult versions of their characters, while the HBO cast is beginning the story all over again.

The Biggest Harry Potter Cast Surprise in 2026

If there is one major lesson from the original cast's careers, it is that the actors didn't follow the same path.

Some became major movie stars.

Some moved into television.

Some concentrated on theatre.

Some stepped away from acting.

Some returned to their Harry Potter characters.

And some found completely different careers.

Perhaps the most surprising development is Rupert Grint's decision to return to Ron Weasley in 2027 after spending years building a career away from the franchise.

Tom Felton's return as Draco is another reminder that actors can revisit a defining role without necessarily becoming trapped by it.

Meanwhile, Emma Watson's distance from acting shows the opposite: sometimes the best way to move forward is to step away from the spotlight.

Harry Potter Cast Where Are They Now: The Bottom Line

So, where are the Harry Potter cast members now in 2026?

Daniel Radcliffe is continuing an eclectic acting career across television, film and theatre.

Emma Watson remains selective and largely away from mainstream acting while continuing creative, environmental and public-interest work.

Rupert Grint is preparing to return as adult Ron Weasley on Broadway in 2027.

Tom Felton has already returned as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and remains active in film.

Matthew Lewis continues working in film and television after leaving Neville Longbottom behind.

Bonnie Wright has focused increasingly on directing, writing, environmental advocacy and family life.

Evanna Lynch continues acting while also writing and advocating for animal welfare.

Harry Melling has developed one of the most acclaimed careers among the former child cast.

Alfred Enoch has become a major television and theatre actor.

Katie Leung continues to work across television, voice acting and other projects, including Bridgerton.

James and Oliver Phelps remain closely connected to Harry Potter through Wizards of Baking.

And the timing could hardly be more appropriate.

Twenty-five years after the original cast first walked into Hogwarts, the actors who grew up with the franchise are now watching a new generation take their places.

The original Harry Potter movies may belong to one generation of actors, but the careers of their stars show that the story didn't end when the credits rolled in 2011.

In 2026, Harry Potter is entering another chapter.

And for fans who grew up with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and the rest of the original cast, that may be the most interesting part of all.