While controversy still looms over the game, Hogwarts Legacy has many fans highly anticipating being able to write their own story as they explore Hogwarts. The game is set a full 100 years before the events of Harry Potter, but fans should still be excited about the characters, both confirmed and still speculated on, that may make an appearance. Phineas Nigellus Black, the great-grandfather of Harry's godfather Sirius Black, will be headmaster to those who will be picking up Hogwarts Legacy upon its release, played by Simon Pegg. But with the Black family histories close ties to the darker parts of the wizarding world, there may be another connection to a pure-blood house: the Malfoys.
Although the entire cast list as yet to be revealed, the voice actors for Hogwarts Legacy already make an impressive roll call. Sebastian Croft of Netflix's Heartstopper and Amelia Gething of The Spanish Princess will give voice to the players' avatars in the game. Luke Youngblood, who played Lee Jordan in the first two Harry Potter films, will be returning to the Wizarding World to play a new character, and Lesley Nicol will be voicing the Deputy Headmaster with a familiar name: Matilda Weasley. Despite this impressive cast, Simon Pegg's headmaster stands out due to his broad lore connections.
The Pureblood Families of Harry Potter
Just about every fan of the world of Harry Potter will know how supposed "purity" of lineage is sometimes seen as a status symbol by wizards and witches. Although not yet published at the time that Hogwarts Legacy is set, the Sacred 28 is a list of the families that are considered to still be pure by the 1930s. On this list is the family of Ollivander the wand maker, the Weasley family -- although they would reject to their inclusion on principle due to their disgust with this claim to superiority -- and the Blacks and Malfoys.
The developers haven't confirmed a character from the Malfoy family as part of Hogwarts Legacy yet, but the Blacks' similar views could mean they will step into the role held by the white-blonde family in the original story of Harry Potter. Although set long before the events of the First Wizarding War, players will see all the pieces coming together in Hogwarts Legacy. The Black family later marries into the Malfoys by way of Draco's mother Narcissa, and in an act that would get her disowned, Cedrella Black would marry into the Weasleys. To see the Weasly and Black families working together as Headmaster and Deputy just before they cement themselves as warring factions presents a unique perspective on the Harry Potter world.
Phineas Nigellus Black has appeared to fans of Harry Potter before. His portrait was carried by Harry and his friends in The Deathly Hallows, which helped them git a bit of information on the state of Hogwarts. However, Simon Pegg will play a much younger version of Phineas Black. Known for being irritable and generally not very fond of his job, the character in-game is likely to be a hindrance to the goals of the player, if not an outright antagonist like Draco Malfoy and his family.
Hogwarts Legacy's approaching release date leaves little time to give fans more details before buying the game, but the remaining unknowns have done little to hinder pre-orders of the Harry Potter RPG. While no Malfoy can yet be expected in the game, the Black family's views on blood supremacy make them close Malfoy allies and the next best thing narratively. With some characters still unknown and the timing working so that player could run into a young Albus Dumbledore, players could expect some familiar encounters.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, April 4 for PS4 and Xbox One, and July 25 for Nintendo Switch.
