HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series just landed its young chosen one earlier this year — and now that rising star is already leading another major genre project. Dominic McLaughlin, the 11-year-old actor set to bring Harry Potter back to the screen in HBO’s 2027 remake, is also headlining the BBC’s new supernatural adventure series Gifted, which premieres November 24 on CBBC and iPlayer. And yes, the comparisons to Stranger Things are already flying.
Gifted adapts Marilyn Kaye’s bestselling YA book series and follows a group of Scottish teens with extraordinary abilities — mind-reading, invisibility, telekinesis, and more. Filmed and set in Scotland, the story brings these powered kids together at a special school where they learn to control their gifts while fighting off a dangerous organization known as The Bodkin.
Between the school setting, ensemble teen cast, and looming supernatural threat, the series is already being positioned as CBBC’s answer to Stranger Things — with a Wizarding World-style twist. The cast is made up of up-and-coming young Scottish actors, including McLaughlin, who steps into his first major onscreen role before taking on one of the biggest characters in literary and film history. And notably, McLaughlin is the exact same age Daniel Radcliffe was when he first suited up as Harry in 2001’s Sorcerer’s Stone.
Produced by Black Camel Pictures (Glasgow) and Media Valley (Paris), Gifted will receive an international rollout in early 2026 — perfectly timed to introduce worldwide audiences to McLaughlin ahead of HBO’s Harry Potter, now in production and expected to debut in 2027.
“Scottish kids clearly have talent and they want to act!” said executive producer Arabella Page Croft. “We are excited to produce this show for CBBC and bring these young talents and our beautiful capital city to a young audience globally.”
NDR, who commissioned the series, praised Gifted for its mix of “friendship, mystery and adventures,” adding that it’s poised to be a major hit with younger viewers.
Who Is in Harry Potter?
As McLaughlin prepares to lead the new Harry Potter adaptation, the rest of the cast is coming together. Alongside McLaughlin, the young Hogwarts trio includes Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, with John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Esseidu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Hagrid. Additional cast members include Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch, and Game of Thrones alum Anton Lesser as wandmaker Garrick Ollivander.
Gifted premieres November 24 on CBBC and iPlayer, with international distribution rolling out in 2026.
- Showrunner
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Francisca Gardiner
- Directors
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Mark Mylod
- Writers
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Francesca Gardiner
- Franchise(s)
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Harry Potter
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