HBO's Harry Potter remake officially has its new Hermione Granger, and her role from two years ago already proved that she's the perfect young actor for the job. Following up Emma Watson's performance in the Harry Potter movies will be no easy task. The now 35-year-old actor became a household name, but that wasn't the case when she was first cast to play Hermione back in 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Now, a new young actor is destined for fame and widespread recognition for playing the exact same role in the Harry Potter TV show.

Harry Potter TV show serves as all three's first major TV credit. However, Stanton does have a rather impressive stage career. In fact, the new Hermione actor has a history of playing precocious and intelligent child heroines of adolescent literature.

Arabella Stanton Played Matilda Wormwood In Matilda The Musical On London's West End In 2023

Hermione Granger Is A Great Next Role For Arabella Stanton

Prior to being cast as Hermione Granger in HBO's Harry Potter remake, Stanton played the character Matilda Wormwood in the West End production of Matilda the Musical from 2023 to 2024. This musical is based on the 1996 movie, which is, in turn, based on the 1988 book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Stanton's character is a neglected and mistreated child who discovers that she has special magical abilities. What's more, Matilda Wormwood is highly clever, capable of doing quick sums in her head and planning the best sorts of punishments for her adult abs.

The fact that Stanton was cast to play Matilda on London's West End is pretty phenomenal. She even performed Matilda the Musical at Buckingham Palace for the BBC 500 Words Final. If Stanton could pull this off, she truly should have no trouble with Harry Potter's Hermione Granger. After all, there are several similarities between not only Matilda and Hermione, but also Dahl's beloved story and the Harry Potter series as a whole.

There Are Several Character & Thematic Similarities Between Matilda & Harry Potter

These Stories Are Cut From The Same Cloth

Like Matilda, Hermione Granger is a brilliant child who consistently outsmarts adults through every step of her story. Of course, we see some differences in character development here. Matilda is always kind and humble, while Hermione starts off the Harry Potter series as a bit of a know-it-all who has to learn how to make friends appropriately. Still, the precociousness of these two fictional characters is reassuring when considering Stanton's Harry Potter TV show casting. Of course, the similarities between Stanton's two most massive projects don't end there.

Matilda and Harry Potter are two very different stories, but they're cut from the same cloth. Both follow a neglected child who discovers that they possess far more power than their abs would ever have them believe. Matilda and Harry both find a place of belonging at school and discover friends and mentors who see value in them, not for their power, but for their hearts. Ultimately, it's intensely fitting that Stanton's career would progress from Matilda the Musical to Harry Potter.

Taking over Watson's Harry Potter role will be no easy task, but after her previous work, Stanton should be up for the challenge.

Stanton's experience in Matilda the Musical is meaningful in other ways as well. The stage production came after a movie adaptation of the Matilda novel, just as HBO's TV show follows up on the movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books. Matilda the Musical faced a lot of scrutiny over the years, and this will have hopefully helped Stanton build up a thick skin. Taking over Watson's Harry Potter role will be no easy task, but after her previous work, Stanton should be up for the challenge.