HBO has released the second teaser for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the eight-episode first season of its series adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books, which debuts Christmas 2026 on HBO and streams on HBO Max.
In the season, there is nothing special about Harry Potter, or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure. Behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets, and Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.
Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter, with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. John Lithgow plays Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer is Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu is Severus Snape and Nick Frost is Rubeus Hagrid. The cast also includes Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland and Gabriel Harland as Fred and George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick and Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout.
Additional cast: Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, Louise Brealey as Rolanda Hooch, Bríd Brennan as Poppy Pomfrey, Leigh Gill as Griphook and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.
Here’s the vid:
Francesca Gardiner, named showrunner in 2024, writes and executive produces; Mark Mylod executive produces and directs multiple episodes for HBO, in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV and David Heyman of Heyday Films executive produce.
Alexis Wajsbrot serves as the Production VFX Supervisor, with Dominic Sidoli serving as Production VFX Producer. Framestore has been reported as the likely prime VFX studio on the show, but nothing has been confirmed. A show this heavy in VFX most likely will need multiple vendors on the project.
Source: HBO
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.