HBO on Wednesday released the first official teaser trailer for its highly anticipated “Harry Potter” television series and announced the show will debut on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2026 — earlier than the 2027 date that had previously been announced.
The first season, titled “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max. The series promises to be a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved seven-book saga, with each of the planned seven seasons covering one of the novels.
The teaser opens with a young Harry Potter, played by 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin, who takes on the role made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, being told by his Aunt Petunia Dursley, played by Bel Powley, that he is a normal boy and should start acting like one. The clip follows Harry being bullied at school and shoved into a closet before he receives his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rubeus Hagrid, played by Nick Frost, then tells Harry about his late parents: “They were funny and clever and they stood up for what they believed was right,” adding that the next time he will see Harry will be at Hogwarts.
The teaser closes with Harry meeting his eventual best friends aboard the Hogwarts Express. Ron Weasley, played by Alastair Stout, asks, “Are you really Harry Potter?” with Hermione Granger, played by Arabella Stanton, at his side.
The full cast also includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape — the role made iconic by the late Alan Rickman. The casting of Mr. Essiedu, a Ghanaian-English actor, has drawn racist threats and harassment. He told the Times of London that he has received death threats over the role.
HBO chairman and CEO Casey Bloys told Variety that a casting decision for the role of Voldemort has not yet been made. Mr. Bloys said the network anticipated potential hostility toward cast members and has assembled a security team to protect them.
The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes. Ms. Rowling serves as executive producer alongside Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts and David Heyman.
HBO first announced plans for the adaptation in 2023. Fans got their first look at the cast in May 2025.
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