Is Ben Barnes really playing Sirius Black in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot?! Here’s what he’s said

The Harry Potter fancasting discourse has officially reached a new level, because Ben Barnes has addressed the fact that people have wanted him to play Sirius Black for around 20 years.

Lisa O’Connor/Shutterstock

HBO has now dropped the trailer for the first season of its Harry Potter reboot, giving us our first proper look at the new version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Naturally, people have been obsessing over the new cast, and also revisiting all the actors they desperately wanted to see take on some of the franchise’s most iconic roles.

One name that has been circulating for years is Ben Barnes, with people repeatedly suggesting that the actor would be the perfect choice to take over the role of Sirius Black, originally played by Gary Oldman.

And, rather amusingly, Ben is very aware of the campaign.

Speaking to US Weekly, the actor was asked about his status as one of the internet’s favourite choices for the role and revealed just how long he’s been hearing about the fan casting.

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of Harry Potter books I’ve signed or Gryffindor scarves I’ve been given as gifts. The amount of fan fiction that I’ve been drafted into very enthusiastically is incredible.

Ben Barnes addresses the 20-year Sirius Black fan-casting, calling the fandom’s commitment “really lovely” as HBO develops the ‘HARRY POTTER’ series reboot. pic.twitter.com/hSJnYFbmoS

— Chaos Crave (@ChaosCrave_) September 3, 2026

Most Read

The Lion King composer ordered to pay comedian after $27m lawsuit over podcast joke backfires

He’s not in Death of the Pastor’s Wife, so where is Mica Miller’s first husband Jeremy Deas now?

Ralph Fiennes isn’t returning as Voldemort in Harry Potter, but here’s what he actually said

“It’s been going on for 20 years that people have been very kindly saying that they would’ve liked me to have played a young version of the Sirius Black character in Harry Potter, but now it’s been going on so long that I’m now the age of the actual character in the books.”

Barnes said he hasn’t spoken to anyone about taking on the part, although he certainly doesn’t seem opposed to the idea.

“They’re books that I love and at least half of my career has been based on literary adaptations that I’ve loved, and that one, I see no reason why it would be any different, but I haven’t spoken to anyone about it yet. I find it very flattering, but it is quite weird to be kind of lauded for something that you never did.”

There’s still no confirmation that he’ll actually appear in HBO’s Harry Potter, but at least we now know he’s aware of the internet’s extremely persistent casting suggestion.

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.

Featured image via Lisa O’Connor/Shutterstock