HBO’s upcoming ‘Harry Potter’ series will introduce a new actor as Ginny Weasley in its second season after child actor Gracie Cochrane stepped away from the role due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The announcement was made through a joint statement from Cochrane and her family, confirming that she would not continue beyond the show’s first season.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances Gracie has made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after Season 1,” the statement said.
The family added that her experience on the production had been “truly wonderful” and thanked casting director Lucy Bevan and the wider production team “for creating such an unforgettable experience”.
HBO also responded to the development, saying the company supports the decision made by the actor and her family.
“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,” a network representative said. “We wish Gracie and her family the best.”
In the original ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone story’, Ginny Weasley appears only briefly during the events surrounding King’s Cross station. However, the character becomes far more central in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which forms the basis for the second season of the television adaptation.
The storyline sees Ginny, the younger sister of Ron Weasley, manipulated into opening a hidden chamber inside Hogwarts, unleashing a deadly serpent within the school.
Production on the first season has already wrapped, with the series scheduled for release this Christmas.
The second season is currently in pre-production at Leavesden Studios near London.
