Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Cast: Where Are They Now and What's Next?

The Iconic Harry Potter Cast and Their Surprising New Paths

For a whole generation, Harry Potter meant the faces of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was their second magical outing, but since 2002, their real-life stories have taken some unpredictable turns.

Daniel Radcliffe has traded Hogwarts robes for theater costumes and indie film scripts. He’s popped up on Broadway, standing out in shows like The Cripple of Inishmaan, proving there’s more than Harry Potter in his acting spellbook. On the screen, he’s taken on offbeat roles that distance him from the boy wizard, showing he’s not afraid of strange or challenging projects.

Rupert Grint—once a source of comic relief as Ron—appeared in quirky indie films like Moonwalkers and went a little darker with the Apple TV+ series Servant. Off-set, life got even more magical for him: he and fellow actor Georgia Groome welcomed their first child in 2020. Grint has balanced fame with a surprisingly low-key lifestyle, and his fans love him for it.

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) didn’t just stick to scripts—she shook up the world stage. As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she’s turned her Hogwarts smarts to major issues like gender equality and women’s rights. Films like Little Women and The Perks of Being a Wallflower kept her onscreen, but she’s as famous now for activism as for movie magic.

Other familiar faces took different journeys. Robbie Coltrane: his deep voice and gentle bear-like presence made Hagrid a fan favorite. His death in 2022 hit Potterheads hard, but tributes poured in, remembering the warmth he brought to the franchise. Harry Melling (forever irksome cousin Dudley) went from comically unpleasant child to a respected adult actor, making big splashes in projects like The Queen’s Gambit and the quirky Western The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. And then there was Richard Harris, the original Dumbledore. His passing just before the third film forced the franchise to cast a new headmaster, but his gentle take on the role still lingers with fans.

The HBO Reboot: New Faces at the Familiar School

The wizarding world is ready for another chapter—literally. With HBO announcing a new Harry Potter series in 2023, fans are already racing to guess which new actors will fill those iconic shoes. The plan? Each book gets a full season. For die-hard Potter fans, this means a deeper dive into details that the movies sped through.

The casting news is already buzzing. John Lithgow steps into Dumbledore’s wise old shoes. That’s a definite shift from Richard Harris’s gentle Irish warmth or Michael Gambon’s twinkle. Nick Frost is the frontrunner for Hagrid—imagine his comedic chops and gruff energy in a half-giant’s boots. Sharp, steely control from Janet McTeer may redefine Professor McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu brings youthful charm to the dark, twisty Severus Snape. None of the original cast are returning; folks like Radcliffe have flat-out said they’re content to be fans this time. There’s relief and excitement in the *Potter* community: it’s a new era for a new generation, with the old guard ready to hand over their wands (from afar).

So, all these years after Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets cast cast their last spells together, their stories are still evolving—some on screen, some off, but all bound by a little movie called magic.