Harry Potter HBO Series Release Date: First Look, Complete Cast, What We Know So Far

The Harry Potter franchise is making a comeback via a new live-action series from HBO. The show aims to reintroduce magic to new generations while promising a faithful adaptation, fresh faces, and years of storytelling. Here's everything we know for now, including its release date, the cast so far, and more.

Filming for the series began this month at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, the original filming location for the movies. HBO confirmed that the series is expected to release sometime in 2027. However, no specific month has been announced at the time of writing.

It's slated to stream exclusively on HBO in the United States with international access available through HBO Max. This iteration of Harry Potter will be portrayed through multiple seasons. This opens doors to delve deeper into Hogwarts lore, possibly making it last for years depending on success.

First Look and Cast Revealed

The first official photo about the series introduces Dominic McLaughlin as the new Harry Potter. He'll be joined by Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively.

The leads were selected after an extensive casting search, with McLaughlin standing out among British children aged 9-11. Meanwhile, Stanton brings West End experience to the screen. Stout, on the other hand, takes a major leap from commercials to a lead role in an established franchise on television.

The supporting cast is also notable, boasting veterans, prestige, and bold takes on beloved characters. One person standing out is John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, known for his television roles in Dexter and The Crown.

Other supporting cast includes:

• Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall
• Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape
• Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid
• Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell
• Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch
• Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy
• Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy
• Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley
• Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley
• Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley

HBO also announced more additions consisting of Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.

The creative team behind HBO's Harry Potter includes Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod from Succession as executive producers. Gardiner will also serve as showrunner.

The production is reported to be backed by a massive budget. This suggests that HBO is aiming to either match or surpass their other hit fantasy shows like House of the Dragon.

Other Details and Unanswered Questions

This new take on Harry Potter is garnering praise for its decision to return to the books. Unlike the franchise's films, the series has the ability to dive deeper into the details shared in the book's universe.

Since it won't be pressed for time, fans should expect more dialogue with context and overall character development. What will stay, however, is where the series is being filmed.

Again, we're returning to Leavesden as a practical yet nostalgic decision by the showrunners. That being said, there's still a number of details that are unanswered by HBO.

What exact month will it drop in 2027? How many episodes will each season have? Is the show built around kids, and if so, how will it handle darker plotlines?

The Harry Potter HBO series is shaping up to be a prominent, ambitious television project. We have yet to see if it captures the magic shared by books and the films' version of the Wizarding World.