Gracie Cochrane won’t be enrolling in Hogwarts this fall.
HBO announced that Gracie will depart the upcoming Harry Potter series ahead of Season Two. Gracie played Ron Weasley’s (Alastair Stout) younger sister, Ginny, in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. Gracie and her family attributed the “challenging decision” to “unforeseen circumstances.”
“Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to [casting director] Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience,” the Cochrane family said in a statement. “Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds.”
HBO said they “wish Gracie and her family the best.”
“We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season of HBO’s Harry Potter series, and we are grateful for her work on season one of the show,” HBO wrote in a statement.
The HBO series was greenlit for a second season in early May, months ahead of its Christmas Day premiere later this year. If the sophomore season follows J.K. Rowling’s second book, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (the first season is adapted from the first novel), Ginny will begin her first year at Hogwarts in Season Two.
Gracie was cast following a massive undertaking by HBO to find young actors for the show. HBO reviewed more than 32,000 auditions before selecting Dominic McLaughlin to play the boy who lived. The cast was filled out with West End performers, like Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), first-time actors like Amos Kitson (Dudley Dursley) and longtime stars including John Lithgow, who will play Albus Dumbledore.
HBO Chairman Casey Bloys explained that they expected a lot of “interest” in the cast because of the cultural prominence of the Harry Potter franchise.
“Interest can tip over into more unpleasant and aggressive behaviour,” Bloys told Deadline, alluding to racist backlash over the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape. “We talked to them about what to expect... but any kind of security that’s needed is an unfortunate aspect of doing IP shows. We just try to be mindful and monitor it.”
In March, HBO released its first trailer for the show, which included a peek at the redheaded Weasley family saying goodbye to Ron at Platform 9¾ before he boarded the Hogwarts Express. The trailer also teased Harry’s acceptance letter from Hogwarts and his wand and Nimbus broom. – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
