{"id":2461230,"date":"2026-06-16T00:33:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T00:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2461230"},"modified":"2026-06-16T00:33:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T00:33:16","slug":"hbos-harry-potter-series-casts-peeves-the-poltergeist-fan-favorite-character-cut-from-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/hbos-harry-potter-series-casts-peeves-the-poltergeist-fan-favorite-character-cut-from-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"HBO&#8217;s \u201cHarry Potter\u201d series casts Peeves the Poltergeist, fan-favorite character cut from movies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">HBO&#8217;s <em>Harry Potter<\/em> series will include a fan-favorite character who was previously cut from the films.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">British comedian Peter Serafinowicz has been cast as Peeves the Poltergeist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer\u2019s Stone <\/em>director Chris Columbus has called cutting Peeves one of his &#8220;biggest regrets&#8221; from the film.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hogwarts has finally found its onscreen poltergeist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">HBO&#8217;s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/harry-potter-fandom\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Harry Potter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Harry Potter&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Harry Potter<\/em><\/a> series won&#8217;t be repeating a certain controversial decision made for the films: Peeves, the troublemaking ghost who wreaks havoc on young wizards, will be roaming the halls of Hogwarts when the new adaptation kicks off on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em> has learned that British comedian Peter Serafinowicz has been cast as Peeves the Poltergeist in the upcoming series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Serafinowicz, who voiced Darth Maul in the first<em> Star Wars<\/em> prequel <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Episode 1 \u2014 The Phantom Menace,;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Episode 1 \u2014 The Phantom Menace,&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Episode 1 \u2014 The Phantom Menace<\/em>,<\/a> is also known for roles in<em> Shaun of the Dead<\/em>, <em>How to Train Your Dragon<\/em>, <em>Parks and Recreation, John Wick: Chapter 2 <\/em>and <em>Guardians of the Galaxy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This casting announcement is particularly exciting for fans of the franchise as the fan-favorite ghost was cut out of the original <em>Harry Potter<\/em> movies.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Peter Serafinowicz attends the 27th British Independent Film Awards at the Roundhouse on Dec. 8, 2024<br \/>Credit: Karwai Tang\/WireImage<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As Peeves, Serafinowicz will be a source of chaos. The ghostly character doesn&#8217;t have a particularly significant role in the story, but is a constant nuisance in the tapestry of Hogwarts with antics that include throwing things, making messes, pulling pranks, and generally causing mischief that enrages caretaker Argus Filch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While absent from the films, Peeves has appeared in several video game adaptations of the movies, as well as the open world RPG, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/gaming\/hogwarts-legacy-trans-character-sirona-ryan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Hogwarts Legacy;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Hogwarts Legacy&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Hogwarts Legacy<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Peeves was originally set to appear in 2001&#8217;s<em> Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone<\/em> but the character was cut in post-production. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films in the franchise, has said the decision to cut Peeves was &#8220;one of [his]<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/movies\/harry-potter-concept-art-never-made-the-movies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:biggest regrets;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;biggest regrets&quot;}\" class=\"link \"> biggest regrets <\/a>about the first movie.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">British comedian Rik Mayall (of <em>The Young Ones<\/em> and <em>Drop Dead Fred<\/em>) previously revealed in 2011 that he spent three weeks filming as Peeves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I did a little bit of filming then I went home and got the money \u2014 significant \u2014 then a month later they said &#8216;Rik, sorry about this, you\u2019re not in the film,'&#8221; Mayall, who died at 56 in 2014, said at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He added that he <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S9pioZ9TQ9E\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:never got around to telling his kids;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;never got around to telling his kids&quot;}\" class=\"link \">never got around to telling his kids<\/a> that he had been cut from the film \u2014 but luckily, they didn&#8217;t notice. &#8220;They came back and said, &#8216;It\u2019s bloody good make-up. You didn\u2019t look like yourself at all, Dad, it\u2019s really good,'&#8221; he said, then explained, &#8220;They thought I was playing Hagrid.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with\u00a0our\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \">EW Dispatch newsletter<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">HBO\u2019s <em>Harry Potter,<\/em> planned as a seven-season journey with each season tackling one of the seven novels, has long purported to &#8220;go deeper&#8221; than the films. The series stars <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/harry-potter-cast-hbo-series-11750752\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Dominic McLaughlin;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Dominic McLaughlin&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Dominic McLaughlin<\/a> in the titular role, with Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. John Lithgow plays Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, with Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/potter-series-casts-peeves-the-poltergeist-11998863\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points HBO&#8217;s Harry Potter series will include a fan-favorite character who was previously cut from the films. British comedian Peter Serafinowicz has been cast as Peeves the Poltergeist. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer\u2019s Stone director Chris Columbus has called cutting Peeves one of his &#8220;biggest regrets&#8221; from the film. Hogwarts has finally found its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2461231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[313830,358908,310989,21917,325227,395645,484114],"class_list":["post-2461230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-chris-columbus","tag-fan-favorite","tag-harry-potter","tag-hbo","tag-john-wick","tag-peter-serafinowicz","tag-rik-mayall"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HBOs-Harry-Potter-series-casts-Peeves-the-Poltergeist-fan-favorite-character.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2461230"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2461232,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461230\/revisions\/2461232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2461231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2461230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2461230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2461230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}