HBO Max has released the teaser for the Harry Potter television series, confirming the show will debut on Christmas Day 2026. The first season carries the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The series will air on HBO and stream on HBO Max across its territories, which now include Germany, Italy, and the UK and Ireland.
Written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, the series is executive produced alongside director Mark Mylod, J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. Mylod will direct episodes of the series for HBO, in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: HBO series release date, cast and trailer breakdown
The teaser opens at the Dursley home, where Harry Potter is shown in his cupboard under the stairs. The space contains drawings, including one of a motorbike. The scene establishes the circumstances of Harry’s life before Hogwarts.
The teaser also features a scene at a school where Harry, dressed in an ill-fitting uniform, is chased and cornered by his cousin Dudley and a group of other children – an incident referenced in the books but never previously shown on screen.
A scene depicting Aunt Petunia cutting Harry’s hair is also included. In the books, this is recalled as a memory in which his hair grows back overnight despite her efforts.
The production has confirmed that the series will bring to the screen moments from J.K. Rowling’s books that have not previously been adapted.
These include the scene at Muggle school and Aunt Petunia’s attempt to cut Harry’s hair, as well as a scene showing Harry and Hagrid travelling on the London Underground together.
In the Underground scene, Hagrid speaks about James and Lily Potter in a moment that signals the direction the series intends to take in terms of emotion.
A scene depicting a snowball fight at Christmas – including Hagrid making a snow angel – is also shown in the teaser.
The teaser provides a look at the sets built for Hogwarts. Locations visible in the footage include the Entrance Hall with carved doors and a staircase, a greenhouse associated with Professor Sprout, and the Gryffindor common room.
The house heraldry has been redesigned for the series. The house colours and mascots remain unchanged, but the emblems – visible on Quidditch robes and in the Entrance Hall – have been updated. The Hogwarts crest itself has also changed, now featuring an “H” in place of the coat of arms used in the films.
Student uniforms consist of black robes, as described in the books, with house-specific details including tie colours. Quidditch robes carry the names and numbers of players and are worn with cloaks.
The Sorting Hat appears in the teaser. The production states it has been designed in keeping with the description in the book – a hat that is patched and frayed with a tear near the brim that resembles a mouth.
The moment Harry Potter’s wand is placed in his hand is also shown. The wand features detail around the handle.
Quidditch scenes are included in the teaser. The footage shows the Nimbus 2000 presented in a box, the Quidditch robes, and the brooms, the bristles of which are shown fanned out.
The series will feature a score composed by Hans Zimmer, which has not yet been heard.
Characters shown in the teaser include Harry Potter, Ron Weasley – shown with a smudge of dirt on his nose, as described in the books – Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, the Dursleys, Molly Weasley, Garrick Ollivander, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.
The teaser also includes a look at items such as Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans and Dumbledore’s half-moon spectacles.
The series is set in the 1990s, in keeping with the timeline of the books, with the story beginning in 1991. The costumes for characters including Mrs Weasley and members of the public on the London Underground reflect the period.
