Chaska Adelin, from Portslade, applied “on a whim” to star in the new television series in November 2024, just before the deadline.
Filming of the Harry Potter reboot will span a decade, with each of JK Rowling’s seven books adapted – one book per season.
Filming is expected to begin in the summer at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, and the first series could air as early as 2026 on HBO Max.
Chaska, 11, did seven auditions in total. He did two self-recorded tapes and five in-person auditions in December, January, March, April and May.
In May, Chaska was invited for screen tests with only two other Harry hopefuls, where he was tested for the role over two days at the Warner Bros studios, alongside potential actors for the roles of Hermione and Ron.
Last week, HBO revealed that Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout have been cast as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
Chaska fell in love with improvisation through a series of free comedy workshops run by Komedia Kids in Brighton. (Image: Supplied) Although Chaska narrowly missed out on playing “the boy who lived”, mum Samaya said the application process was an “incredible experience”.
“It was two days of makeup, trailers, learning lines and even trying on Daniel Radcliffe’s original glasses”, she said.
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“Even though he didn’t get it, it was fantastic, and he did amazingly. It has been a really wonderful thing as a mum to see him experience that. Now he has been signed with one of the top acting agencies.
“He applied for the fun of it – he wanted to see where it took him. It’s a beautiful reminder that it’s really worth trying and giving it a go.
“As a mum, it’s kind of a relief. Now he has the chance to explore this pathway without being swallowed up by this huge, iconic role.
“We’re not a showbiz family; we want him to have fun rather than achieve fame.”
The lengthy audition process required Chaska to take time out of school and sign an non disclosure agreement with HBO.
Samaya had even started looking at properties in St Albans, where the family would have had to relocate for ten years had Chaska been cast in the role.
Chaska featured on the front page of The Argus on May 5 (Image: The Argus) Chaska met and auditioned in front of director Mark Mylod, casting director Lucy Bevan, screenwriter Francesca Gardiner and executive producer David Heyman. He also met crew and staff from the original films.
On May 5, a photograph of Chaska partaking in the children’s parade featured on the front page of The Argus under the headline “get set for a great month”.
Samaya said: “He was on the cover with the headline about a great month and then a week later he was screen testing at Warner Brothers. It was a weird coincidence – almost like a premonition.”
A pupil at Cottesmore St Mary’s Catholic primary School, Chaska fell in love with improvisation through a series of free comedy workshops run by Komedia Kids in Brighton.
“He did the workshops and fell in love with improv,” Samaya said.
“Seven months down the line and eight auditions later, he was being invited to Warner Brothers for the final three for Harry Potter.
“Please look at the free workshops in your area – you never know where a local community event might lead you.”