Kristian Nairn as Hagrid
Yes, we know there are a lot of Game of Thrones cast members on this list. The site is called Winter Is Coming; what did you expect?
And it’s not like this is a bad choice; at 7’0″, Kristian Nairn is a good fit for Hagrid physically; he wouldn’t have to fake towering over the students of Hogwarts. More importantly, Nairn has the right temperament to play Hagrid. As he proved in the role of Hodor on Game of Thrones, Nairn has a sweet, likable, vulnerable charm that would match perfectly with Hogwarts’ sweet, likable, vulnerable groundskeeper. All that and the production could save on the special effects budget!
Of course, Nairn would have to learn a few lines beyond “Hodor.” But that won’t be a problem; the man does have an acting career outside Game of Thrones. He’s appeared in shows like Ripper Street and will have a lead role in a new HBO show from Taika Waititi called Our Flag Means Death, about pirates. Hagrid can be yet another feather in his crowded cap.