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Finally, the news that millions of fans were waiting for has arrived. Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Wednesday the official name, the first trailer, and the premiere date of its highly anticipated "Harry Potter" series for HBO.
It is titled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and will be available on Christmas Day 2026, on HBO and HBO Max, as confirmed by the American television network on X.
The announcement was made at an event held in London to mark the official launch of HBO Max in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The three young lead actors attended the event, taking a break from filming, which began on July 14, 2025, at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the same studio where the eight original films were shot.
The trailer, lasting about two minutes, introduces the new lead trio: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. They were all cast in May 2025 after a massive audition process that attracted over 32,000 boys.
The images show Harry being bullied at his Muggle school, his invitation to Hogwarts, and the first scenes of the magical world.
In the trailer's dialogues, Hagrid tells Harry, "Your parents were the bravest and kindest people I've ever known... they stood firm in what they believed... The next time I see you will be at Hogwarts." Ollivander, on his part, warns him, "Mr. Potter, I believe we can expect great things from you."
Beloved actors who are no longer with us
Several main actors from the saga have passed away in recent years.
Michael Gambon, who portrayed Dumbledore, passed away in 2023. A year earlier, Robbie Coltrane, who brought Hagrid to life also died, and Alan Rickman, the unforgettable Potions Master Severus Snape, said goodbye in 2016.
Maggie Smith, the eternal Professor McGonagall, passed away in September 2024.
They were replaced by John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
The adult cast also includes Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, and Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, among others.
Behind the scenes, the series is led by the creative duo from the television series "Succession": Francesca Gardiner as showrunner and lead writer, and Mark Mylod as director of several episodes, both serving as executive producers since 2024.
J.K. Rowling is also listed as an executive producer. The author of the original books stated in 2023 that "Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me."
The series plans to adapt each of the seven books into a separate season, with filming for the first one expected to conclude in May.
The "Harry Potter" franchise is one of the most valuable in global entertainment: the books have sold more than 500 million copies in over 80 languages, and the original movies, produced between 2001 and 2011, grossed over 7.7 billion dollars at the global box office.
It is worth noting that Netflix negotiated the purchase of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion in December 2025, a deal that could impact the future of the franchise.
The second season of the new series will begin filming shortly after the first one concludes.
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