The nostalgia machine is officially running at full power: HBO has dropped the first teaser for the TV remake of ‘Harry Potter’. We break down how the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione look (spoiler: unfamiliar), why the internet has already argued over t...

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Every remotely recognizable brand inevitably gets a remake or new adaptation, so producers couldn't ignore the most-read book series of the late 20th century and its box-office phenomenon film adaptation. On March 25, 2026, HBO Max released the first official teaser for the series ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ (that's what the first season will be called) — and the nostalgia machine kicked into high gear.

What Was Shown in the Trailer

The teaser opens predictably and expectedly: Harry in the cupboard under the stairs, a grim Aunt Petunia played by Belle Powley, and Uncle Vernon looming over the boy. The first few seconds work flawlessly — triggering the memory of everyone who read the books as children or rewatched the films during winter break.

Then — a familiar route. Hagrid leads Harry through London to King's Cross, a lightning bolt flashes on his forehead, round glasses, a red-haired Weasley mane in the train window. Platform Nine and Three-Quarters is deliberately left off-screen — the creators are clearly holding back a trump card. But fans with burning eyes are already studying every frame for school robes, the common room, the Sorting Hat, the Nimbus 2000 broom, the snowy Quidditch pitch, and other details.

But there's also something new. The series will show Harry at a Muggle school alongside his cousin Dudley — a scene that never appeared in the films. Hagrid takes Harry not on a motorcycle but on the London Underground — another innovation that is sure to spark debate.

The New ‘Golden Trio’

The main characters are three completely new faces.​

• Dominic McLaughlin — Harry Potter;
• Arabella Stanton — Hermione Granger;
• Alastair Stout — Ron Weasley.

It's hard to say anything definitive from the trailer. The children look convincing on screen, but the teaser is too short to gauge the acting chemistry. To be fair, Daniel Radcliffe in 2001 also didn't impress with depth of gaze in the first promo reels.

The adult cast is a different story. John Lithgow as Dumbledore — an unexpected but intriguing choice. After ‘The Crown’, where he played Churchill, Lithgow knows how to convey both grandeur and fragility — exactly what the Hogwarts headmaster needs. Janet McTeer as McGonagall will inevitably be compared to Maggie Smith, but she looks quite authentic. Nick Frost as Hagrid is a risky casting for those who remember and love Robbie Coltrane, but we'll see.

The most painful choice in terms of public reaction — Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. The Black actor received death threats from some ‘fans’, and HBO had to step up security on set. Essiedu has spoken publicly about this, and HBO head Casey Bloys confirmed: the threats are real, and they take them seriously. A sad but, alas, predictable accompaniment to any major fandom project these days.

What About the Casting Rumors?

For months, the internet buzzed about Tilda Swinton and Cillian Murphy joining the series. Bloys dismissed both options briefly and without illusions:

‘Don't believe the rumors. I don't even know who else we'll sign.’

Murphy, who was rumored to play Voldemort, personally dispelled the speculation in an interview with The Times back in February. So the Dark Lord remains a mysterious figure, fitting for the character himself.

The Old Guard Passes the Torch

One of the most touching aspects of this whole story is how the original actors are reacting to the generational change. Daniel Radcliffe, according to him, wrote to McLaughlin:

‘I hope you get even more enjoyment out of this than I did — and I had a wonderful time.’

Rupert Grint (Ron in the original films) sent a similar letter to Alastair Stout:

‘I'm passing the baton to you. I really hope you get the same experience I did.’​

This sounds human — without pathos or marketing excess. Although, of course, we have no way to verify what exactly lies behind these words. People who spent their childhood and youth in roles they are now officially trying to distance themselves from — that's a separate topic for discussion.

When It Comes Out and Where to Watch

The first season — eight episodes — is scheduled for December 25, 2026 on HBO Max. The entire project is planned for seven seasons, one per book. That means, if everything goes according to plan, we'll see the finale sometime around the mid-2030s — in a world that is hard to even imagine now.

Is It Worth Waiting For?

The trailer came out beautiful, neat, and deliberately safe. Many are already calling it an ‘expensive carbon copy’ — all the same things we've seen, just without the musical theme by John Williams (who, by the way, will be replaced by Hans Zimmer), which once made even weak scenes magical.​

But honestly, no one expected a radical reimagining. HBO is betting on nostalgia and an audience that wants to see their favorite books ‘properly’ adapted — unlike the films, which had to cut half the text. The series format provides room for details we always missed: from Peeves to S.P.E.W.

Whether it will become something more than an expensive fandom attraction — Christmas will tell. For now, we can state: Hogwarts is opening its doors again, and everyone is already waiting to return to the legendary school of magic.

The series ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ premieres on HBO Max on December 25, 2026.