American premium cable network HBO has released the first teaser for its much-awaited Harry Potter series, giving fans a glimpse of a new Boy Who Lived and a reimagined Hogwarts.
The eight-episode first season will debut on Christmas 2026 on HBO and stream exclusively on HBO Max.
The roughly two-minute teaser opens at the Dursley home, following young Harry Potter, played by Dominic McLaughlin, being forced into the cupboard under the stairs, bullied by cousin Dudley, and subjected to a stern haircut and lecture from Aunt Petunia about how ordinary he is. The clip tracks his journey from receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter to meeting Hagrid, traveling with him on the London Underground, and running through Platform 9 3/4 to board the Hogwarts Express.
Scenes include Harry getting his first wand from Garrick Ollivander, early moments of friendship with Ron and Hermione, and glimpses of Quidditch, the Sorting Hat ceremony, a Christmas snowball fight, and the grand Entrance Hall of a reimagined Hogwarts.
Alongside McLaughlin, the series stars Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. John Lithgow plays Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer portrays Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu is Severus Snape, and Nick Frost appears as Rubeus Hagrid.
The young ensemble also includes Rory Wilmot (Neville Longbottom), Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy), Leo Earley (Seamus Finnigan), Elijah Oshin (Dean Thomas), Tristan Harland (Fred Weasley), Gabriel Harland (George Weasley), Ruari Spooner (Percy Weasley), and Alessia Leoni (Parvati Patil).
Additional cast members announced are Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley. The role of Lord Voldemort has not yet been cast.
The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling novels, is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod serving as executive producer and directing multiple episodes. It is produced by HBO in association with Bronte Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television, with Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman of Heyday Films also executive producing.
The decade-long adaptation plans to bring all seven novels to the screen, with each season corresponding to one book and new seasons expected through 2036. The series revisits the franchise first adapted for film by Warner Bros.: eight films released between 2001 and 2011, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, and culminating in the two-part adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which featured Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort.
