The first glimpse of Hagrid from HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series has sparked an unexpected wave of ridicule across social media. Played by Nick Frost, the beloved half-giant and Hogwarts groundskeeper has become the center of online mockery, with many fans unimpressed by the character’s redesign.
Dressed in a long brown wig and thick beard, Frost’s transformation into Hagrid was meant to evoke nostalgia. But fans weren’t buying it. “Looks like a Spirit Halloween costume,” one user quipped. Another joked, “Thought it was AI … still not convinced, tbh.” Several others simply said the new look felt more like cosplay than a cinematic revival.
Critics didn’t hold back either. Comments ranged from calling him a “Temu version of Hagrid” to likening the look to a generic homeless man. Some were more direct: “He looks like he came back from Jumanji,” laughed one fan. Another said, “I thought that was Adam Sandler.”
Even the hair got dragged. “Why does Hagrid have a blowout?” asked one fan, criticizing the character’s overly neat styling. Many agreed that Frost’s version lacked the grit and warmth that Robbie Coltrane brought to the role in the original films.
Frost, best known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, admitted the challenge of stepping into such an iconic character. “I’m not trying to be Robbie,” he told Collider. “I want to play Hagrid funny, scared, childlike, and protective.”
In fact, Frost even used manifestation to land the role. After his audition, he wrote “Hagrid” 5,000 times on paper only to realize 2,000 of those read “Hadridge” due to a dyslexia mix-up.
Adding to the storm, fans also criticized Frost for working on a series produced by J.K. Rowling, whose views on transgender rights remain highly divisive. Frost addressed the backlash, saying, “She’s allowed her opinion, and I’m allowed mine. They just don’t align.”
After facing a wave of negativity, Frost disabled comments on Instagram but not before the trolls had their say.
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