Rafe Spall
Rafe Spall has joined the show as Arthur Weasley and is repped by B-Side and UTA National Youth Theatre/Flickr

Rafe Spall has joined HBO's Harry Potter television series as Arthur Weasley in Season 2, stepping into the role of Ron's father at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire.

The casting carries a family twist. Spall's father, Timothy Spall, played Peter Pettigrew, better known as Wormtail, in the original film franchise.

The younger Spall now enters the same wizarding world as the genial Ministry of Magic employee and father of seven, while his father previously appeared as Death Eater Peter Pettigrew. He takes over a part long associated with Mark Williams, who played Arthur across the original films.

Spall's credits include Apple TV's 'Trying' and Sky's 'Under Salt Marsh', and he is represented by B-Side and UTA.

New Faces Haunt Chamber of Secrets

Spall is one of three new additions confirmed for Season 2, which will adapt 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'. Molly Hewitt-Richards has been cast as Moaning Myrtle, the ghost who haunts the second-floor girls' bathroom, a role originally played on screen by Shirley Henderson.

Hewitt-Richards' credits include 'Code of Silence' on BritBox and BBC drama 'Casualty', and she is represented by Curtis Brown Group.

The casting gives the series a chance to revisit one of the franchise's most distinctive comic characters with a new performer.

Myrtle's return places one of the franchise's most recognisable ghosts back in the setting where Harry encounters her in the second story.

Jasper Ambrose joins as Colin Creevey, the Muggle-born Gryffindor who idolises Harry and is known for his enthusiasm for photography. Ambrose's previous work includes 'The Sheep Detectives', and he is represented by Sylvia Young Agency.

Colin's fascination with photographing Harry is one of his defining characteristics, while his experiences as a younger student place him close to the events surrounding the Chamber. The character was previously played by Hugh Mitchell in the original film adaptation of 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.

Season 2 Cast Builds on Star Power

The trio joins a Season 2 roster that already includes Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart, Lenny Rush as Dobby, Billy Barratt as a young Tom Riddle and Bonnie Hill, who takes over as Ginny Weasley from Season 1's Gracie Cochrane.

Season 1, adapting 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', is due to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on 25 December.

It stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, alongside John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.

Creative Team and What Comes Next

The series is created for television by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, who also executive produces alongside Mark Mylod. Jon Brown will join Gardiner as co-showrunner for Season 2.

J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts executive produce for Rowling's Brontë Film and TV, with David Heyman producing for Heyday Films, the company behind the original film series.

HBO has not released a premiere date or episode details for Season 2, and casting for several remaining roles, including other members of the Weasley family, is still to be finalised.

With Spall's casting announced alongside Harington's, the latest Season 2 reveals continue to expand the cast for HBO's return to Hogwarts, even before the first season has aired. The additions further expand the cast for the adaptation of 'The Chamber of Secrets', with several roles from the story now confirmed for the second season.

Writer's pick