For all the things Warner Bros.' Harry Potter films nailed about the Wizarding World, one absence nagged at fans for years. That gap was a single character, Hogwarts' notorious troublemaking ghost Peeves. The frustrating twist is that he was not entirely overlooked. The late, much-loved actor Rik Mayall actually played Peeves in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, but every one of his scenes was eventually cut, and audiences never got to meet the character at all.
Peeves Returns After 25 Years
Now, a full 25 years later, HBO's upcoming Harry Potter series is finally putting the poltergeist on screen. According to TrendKia, British comedy heavyweight Peter Serafinowicz has joined the show and will take on the role of Hogwarts' most chaotic spook.
Who Is Peter Serafinowicz
A Scouser most recently seen delivering an uncanny Nigel Farage impression on SNL UK, Serafinowicz is not a straight swap for Mayall, because no such replacement exists, but he is a fiercely sharp and dynamic performer in his own right. He is well versed in big franchise work, having voiced Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, played the Sommelier in John Wick: Chapter Two, and appeared as Denarian Saal in Guardians Of The Galaxy. Stepping into a vast universe and leaving a mark is nothing new for him.
On top of that, his work on The Tick, Shaun Of The Dead, Amandaland and more has shown off serious comic instincts and a real gift for voice acting. That makes him a smart fit for a cantankerous figure like Peeves, whose crude school anthems and love of mischief demand exactly the kind of impish voice and energy Serafinowicz brings.
Joining a Stacked Cast
Serafinowicz is signing on to a genuinely impressive lineup. The adult cast already includes Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Anton Lesser as wandmaker Ollivander.
When the Series Arrives
HBO's Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone is set to land on Christmas Day, while production on Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets keeps rolling, so expect plenty of Peeves before long. It is a rewarding stretch to be a fantasy fan. Between this casting and Rory Kinnear's Tom Bombadil in The Rings Of Power, the most chaotic book characters once shunned on the big screen are finding fresh life thanks to streaming.
