Harry Potter Twins Oliver and James Phelps on the HBO Show, the Cast Group Chat, and Tom Felton
Oliver and James Phelps, the actors who played Fred and George Weasley in all eight Harry Potter movies, say they will probably watch the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV show. The twins, both 40, spoke to Page Six on November 4, 2026, and made it clear they are not involved in the new series and do not know much more about it than the public does. Oliver joked about watching it on Christmas Day, but that was a joke, not a confirmed premiere date. The twins are busy with their own Wizarding World project, Season 3 of their Food Network series Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, which returned on November 4.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Who they are | Oliver and James Phelps, both 40, played Fred and George Weasley |
| Films | All eight Harry Potter movies, released between 2001 and 2011 |
| New HBO show | They will probably watch it; they are not involved in it |
| Christmas Day remark | Oliver’s joke, not a confirmed premiere date |
| New Fred and George | Tristan and Gabriel Harland will play the twins |
| Cast group chat | The original cast keeps in touch through a group chat |
| Most active in the chat | Tom Felton, according to the twins |
| James and group chats | He admitted he automatically mutes any chat he is added to |
| Current show | Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season 3, on Food Network |
| Season 3 return | November 4 at 8 p.m., streams on HBO Max |
| Interview source | Page Six, November 4, 2026 |
Who the Phelps Twins Are
For a generation of Harry Potter fans, Oliver and James Phelps are Fred and George Weasley. The identical twins from Birmingham, England, were cast as the mischievous red haired brothers and played them across all eight Harry Potter films, released between 2001 and 2011. Fred and George were the pranksters of the Weasley family, the owners of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, and two of the most loved supporting characters in the whole series. Their humor, their loyalty to each other, and their knack for chaos made them stand out in a cast full of big personalities.
Since the films ended, Oliver and James have stayed close to the Wizarding World in a different way. They host Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on Food Network, a competition show where teams of bakers create treats inspired by the magical world. The show lets them stay connected to the fans and the franchise without stepping back into the roles they played as young men. It also shows a different side of them, as presenters who can guide a show and enjoy the fun of it, rather than actors following a script.
What They Said About the HBO Show
The question every Harry Potter fan wants answered is simple: will the original cast watch the new HBO show? For the Phelps twins, the answer is probably yes. They told Page Six they will probably watch the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV show at some point. That is a warm answer, but it is not a promise to sit down on premiere night with a countdown clock. It is the answer of two people who care about the story and want to see what the new version does with it, when they get around to it.
Oliver added a joke that is worth getting right, because it could easily be misread. He said, “It is out on Christmas Day, is it not? Apart from the King’s speech, we do not really have much on the TV at the house on Christmas Day.” Then he added, “We will probably watch it at some point.” The Christmas Day line was a joke about a quiet day at home, not a statement about when the show will actually air. No premiere date was confirmed in the interview, and readers should not take the joke as a release date.
The twins were also clear about their own role, or rather the lack of one. They are not involved in the HBO series, and they said they do not know much more about it than that. That honesty matters, because fans often assume the original cast must have inside knowledge about the remake. In this case, the twins say they do not. They are on the outside looking in, much like the audience, and they will learn about the show the same way everyone else does.
The New Fred and George
One thing the twins do know is who will play their old roles. Tristan and Gabriel Harland will play Fred and George Weasley in the new HBO show. That casting is one of the details that has already been made public, and it puts the Harland brothers in the same position the Phelps twins were in more than twenty years ago: two young actors stepping into beloved roles that fans already have strong feelings about.
Fans of the stage show have already seen how the Wizarding World can live on with new casts. Read more: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child enters year 8 with Felton and Grint in the cast. The stage production keeps the story alive with different actors in the roles, and audiences have accepted that. The HBO show will ask for the same kind of openness, and the early casting news suggests the producers are looking for fresh faces who can grow into the parts over several seasons.
The Cast Group Chat and Tom Felton
One of the most charming parts of the interview had nothing to do with the new show. The original Harry Potter cast still keeps in touch through a group chat, and the twins shared a few details about how it works. Like many group chats, it has its quiet members, its regulars, and its running jokes. The difference is that this one includes people who grew up together on one of the biggest film series of all time.
James Phelps admitted something many people will recognize in themselves. He said he automatically mutes any chat he is added to. That is a common habit in the age of constant notifications, and it is funny precisely because it is so normal. The stars of a global franchise deal with group chat noise the same way everyone else does: by silencing it and checking in when they feel like it.
That habit once led to a gentle complaint from Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the films. James said Felton told him a couple of months ago, “You never reply!” It is a small moment, but it tells a bigger story about the friendship. Felton noticed the silence, and he said so, in the friendly way that only an old friend can. The twins also said Felton is the most active person in the group chat, which will surprise no one who follows him. He has stayed close to the franchise and its fans for years, and he is often the one keeping the conversation going.
Casting news around big franchises often starts the same kind of online talk. Fans debate new choices, compare them with the originals, and share their hopes for the finished product. Read more: Hunger Games stars McKenna Grace and Joseph Zada spark romance talk. The Harry Potter remake will go through the same process, and the original cast group chat will probably have plenty to say about it in private, even if most of it never reaches the public.
Wizards of Baking Season 3
While the HBO show moves ahead without them, the Phelps twins have plenty of their own Wizarding World work to do. Season 3 of their Food Network series Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking returned on November 4 at 8 p.m., and it streams on HBO Max. The show features teams of bakers competing to create Wizarding World themed treats, from towering cakes to detailed sugar work inspired by the films and books.
The format suits the twins well. They are not judging the baking as experts. They are hosts who know the world inside out and can share in the fun when a bake goes right or wrong. Their knowledge of the films gives the show an extra layer, because they can spot the references and jokes that a casual host might miss. For fans, that is part of the appeal: the show is hosted by two people who actually lived in that world for a decade.
Big fantasy franchises keep finding new ways to reach audiences, from films to stage shows to streaming series. Read more: Maya Hawke becomes first star cast in Magic: The Gathering movie. The baking show is one more example of that trend. It takes a world fans love and turns it into something warm, fun, and easy to watch with family, which is a different kind of magic from a blockbuster film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Oliver and James Phelps watch the HBO Harry Potter show?
They told Page Six they will probably watch it at some point. Oliver joked about watching it on Christmas Day, when there is not much else on TV at home apart from the King’s speech, but that was a joke, not a confirmed premiere date. They are not involved in the series.
Who will play Fred and George in the new HBO show?
Tristan and Gabriel Harland will play Fred and George Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter TV show. Oliver and James Phelps played the twins in all eight original films, released between 2001 and 2011.
Do the original Harry Potter stars still talk to each other?
Yes. The original cast keeps in touch through a group chat. James Phelps admitted he automatically mutes any chat he is added to, and Tom Felton once told him, “You never reply!” The twins said Felton is the most active person in the group chat.
What is Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking?
It is the Phelps twins’ Food Network series, now in Season 3, which returned on November 4 at 8 p.m. and streams on HBO Max. Teams of bakers compete by creating Wizarding World themed treats, with Oliver and James hosting the show.
Sources
Final Thoughts
Oliver and James Phelps gave a relaxed and honest answer to the question fans keep asking. They will probably watch the HBO Harry Potter show, they are not involved in it, and they do not know much more about it than the rest of us. The Christmas Day line was a joke, not a premiere date, and the new Fred and George will be Tristan and Gabriel Harland. The best part of the interview may be the group chat story, with James muting every chat and Tom Felton keeping the conversation alive as the most active member. For now, fans can catch the twins hosting Season 3 of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, which returned on November 4 on Food Network and streams on HBO Max.
