J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world is returning to the small screen — this time in a completely new version. HBO has unveiled the first trailer for its highly anticipated Harry Potter series, a television adaptation of Rowling’s books set to premiere toward the end of the year.
The trailer offers a first glimpse at the tone of the series and its central characters — Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger — now portrayed by an entirely new cast of young actors. The project marks a full reboot of the franchise, following the success of the film series starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. The final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, was released in July 2011.
According to HBO, the series is designed as a more faithful adaptation of the original books, with each season based on one installment. This approach is expected to significantly expand storylines and characters that received limited attention in the films.
The project is led by writer and producer Francesca Gardiner, whose credits include Succession, The Man in the High Castle and His Dark Materials, and is produced in collaboration with Rowling herself, who serves as an executive producer. HBO has emphasized that this is a long-term production planned to span several years and deliver a "deep and detailed" adaptation of the world she created.
The three central characters — Harry, Ron and Hermione — are played by young actors Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, respectively. John Lithgow stars as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Hagrid. The actor set to portray the series’ antagonist, Lord Voldemort, has not yet been officially announced, though persistent rumors suggest Oscar winner Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) has been cast for the role.
The series is expected to premiere on HBO Max during the Christmas season in December 2026.
The announcement and trailer come amid high anticipation from fans — alongside considerable skepticism — over whether the series can recapture the magic of the iconic film franchise. Either way, HBO is making a major bet on one of the most powerful brands in popular culture, hoping to attract both new viewers and longtime fans.