If you’re even a casual fan of the Harry Potter books or films, you’ve probably already heard that the beloved fantasy novels are being reimagined for TV. And now, with the cast revealed, first-look images released, and a trailer finally here, there’s plenty to get excited about.
The trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which dropped yesterday (25 March), takes us through key moments leading up to Harry’s arrival at Hogwarts, before teasing what’s to come once he’s there. We get quick glimpses of familiar scenes – the Sorting Hat ceremony, a Quidditch match, and even a botany class – all set to a dramatic, stirring soundtrack. There’s also a standout moment where wandmaker Garrick Ollivander quietly says: “Mr Potter, I think we can expect great things from you,” hinting at the journey ahead.
The first full look of the series comes as HBO Max announced that all the Harry Potter films will be available to stream on the service, as it drops today (26 March).
As the streaming service launches in the UK today, read on for all you need to know about the Harry Potter TV series including when it will be released.
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When is the Harry Potter series dropping?
Harry Potter is scheduled to premiere on HBO in the United States and on HBO Max in the United Kingdom during Christmas of 2026.
Is there a trailer for the Harry Potter TV series?
Yes, the first teaser dropped in March 2026, giving fans a proper first look at HBO’s take on the story. It gives a glimpse into the new cast and starts to hint at how the series will bring the wizarding world to life – you see moments like Harry discovering he’s a wizard and getting his first look at Hogwarts, but with a slightly different tone that feels more detailed and closer to the books. You can watch it below.
How many episodes will be in the first season?
The first season will consist of eight episodes and will be called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, rather than ‘the Sorcerer's Stone’ after its retitling in the US.
Sadly after that, it will be a wait for the next seasons as the entire production is expected to take 10 years to complete the covering of each of J.K. Rowling’s books.
Who is in the cast of the new series?
After the audition of more than 30,000 children, Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley respectively.
Joining them will be John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Fans of the films will be pleased that Warwick Davis is reprising his role as Professor Filius Flitwick.
How can I watch the Harry Potter TV series?
The Harry Potter series will be available to stream on HBO Max in the UK.
There are five plans to choose from when signing up to the new streaming service. Monthly options start from as low as £4.99 for the basic plan, which comes with ads. A standard plan with ads is £5.99, and allows you to stream on two devices, with 30 downloads.
If you want to go ad-free, a standard plan costs £9.99, going up to £14.99 for a premium subscription, which offers four-device 4K streaming and 100 downloads. You can also choose to sign up to TNT Sports, which is available from £36.98 a month.
You can also sign up to HBO Max via your existing Amazon account.
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