Playing Hagrid was a matter of manifesting for Nick Frost.

The British comedian, 53, was cast as the beloved Hogwarts groundskeeper in the new HBO Harry Potter TV series in April 2025, but his work to get the role started way before that.

In an interview published on Thursday, Jan. 29, Frost told The Guardian that his “partner suggested trying to manifest” the role originated by the late Robbie Coltrane before he was cast in the series.

“So last Christmas, I watched all the films back to back on the Sky Harry Potter channel, while writing out the word ‘Hagrid’ 7,000 times,” Frost revealed.

The unorthodox approach paid off, as he secured the role and has been in production since July.

Frost also confirmed that his passion for the Wizarding World extends past his manifestation last year.

“I’ve seen all the films,” he told the outlet. “We go through them all as a family during Christmas every year. We start on 20 December and finish a week and a half later.”

In June 2025, Forst spoke to Collider about playing Hagrid and shared what he hopes to bring to the fan-favorite character.

“While I’m really aware of what went before me in terms of Robbie [Coltrane]’s amazing performance, I’m never going to try and be Robbie,” he said. “I’m going to try and do something — not ‘different,’ I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter — but within that, there’s scope for minutia.”

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“I always read Hagrid as he’s like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can’t wait.”

Frost also wants his portrayal of the character to reflect how “funny” Hagrid is. “I want it to be funny and cheeky and scared and protective and childlike. That’s what I’m planning on doing.”

HBO’s Harry Potter series is slated to premiere in 2027.