New Harry Potter stars look the spitting image of the original cast as they attend the HBO Max launch event – as the first TV series trailer is released

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Actors who played the characters in the Harry Potter series attended the launch event for HBO Max in London on Wednesday evening.

The new series features Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. These actors are taking on the famous roles for the very first time in a television adaptation.

Walking onto the red carpet, the three actors immediately reminded everyone of the stars from the original movie, looking remarkably similar.

The character reveals happened at the same time as the trailer launch, offering fans their first look at this new version of the magical world.

The new HBO series, revealed in 2023, will star Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter.

Fans will be happy to hear the series is coming out sooner than first thought – it was originally planned for 2027!

The show will premiere on HBO at Christmas 2026 and will be available to stream on HBO Max in countries where the service is offered, such as Germany, Italy, and the UK and Ireland.

The new trailer offers a glimpse into the start of Harry’s journey, showing his difficult life with the Dursleys, his first encounter with the kind giant Hagrid, and his arrival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

It also hints at previously unseen moments, including scenes of Harry attending a Muggle school. 

The trailer begins with Harry’s Aunt Petunia saying he’s ‘nothing special’.

But everything shifts dramatically on his eleventh birthday with the arrival of a letter from Hogwarts. This letter reveals a secret world filled with new friends, exciting adventures, and the wonder of magic.

Oh my gosh, everything’s changed for Harry! It’s amazing, but also terrifying because he’s suddenly facing this incredibly powerful enemy, and it’s all connected to his history – like, everything he thought he knew is about to be challenged! I’m so worried for him, but I have to know what happens next!

The initial trailer was released one day after HBO shared the first official picture, which showed the young wizard getting ready to play Quidditch and take off on his broomstick.

As a lifestyle expert, I know everyone’s been buzzing about the new series, and I have to say, the sneak peek photo posted on the official Harry Potter Instagram account definitely got me excited! It gives you a real sense of what’s in store, and I think fans are going to love it.

The camera focused on Harry from behind, showing him in his Gryffindor Quidditch gear with the number ‘7’ and his name ‘POTTER’ printed on the back.

You can just catch a glimpse of Harry’s Nimbus 2000 as he flies toward the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff banners.

A banner with the names ‘Fred and George’ – likely the Weasley twins – is also hanging up.

One person commented: ‘This looks better than I could have ever imagined!’

Another wrote: ‘I have officially passed out. Someone help me up.’

A third penned: ‘I’M SO EXCITED I CAN’T FOCUS ON ANYTHING ELSE.’

A fourth chimed in: ‘Potterheads around the world let’s go.’

While a fifth remarked: ‘I’m not crying…. you’re crying.’

As a huge fan, I was so excited when the first official photo finally dropped! But honestly, we’d been seeing bits and pieces leaked online for months leading up to it, so it felt like a long-awaited reveal, even though we’d already gotten sneak peeks.

Among the earliest came from July 2025, with Dominic and co-stars filming scenes at London Zoo.

This scene shows Dudley Dursley, Harry’s non-magical cousin, celebrating his birthday – a well-known event from the very first book in the series.

Harry first shows he has magical abilities when he frees a Burmese python from its enclosure.

Dominic, playing the role of Harry, wore a blue hoodie and his signature round glasses.

Dudley, played by Amos Kitson, and his aunt Petunia, played by Bel Powley, along with a scowling Vernon, played by Daniel Rigby, appeared in scenes shot near the penguin exhibit.

The actors quickly drove around in green golf carts, and people passing by were surprised to recognize them.

About a month after that, Dominic and Nick Frost, who plays Rubeus Hagrid, were seen filming in London while shooting the scenes where their characters travel to Diagon Alley.

Oh my goodness, things were a little crazy behind the scenes lately! It seems Apple Maps accidentally shared images of our super-secret sets, and let me tell you, the team was not happy. It definitely threw a wrench in things, but we’re working to smooth everything out!

Show creators have been secretive about the show’s sets, but recent updates to Apple Maps revealed new images, giving fans their first look.

This offers fans a sneak peek into the enchanting world of the series, filmed at Warner Bros Studio in Leavesden, and tells the story of young wizard Harry’s arrival at Hogwarts.

The images feature several famous locations from the Harry Potter series, such as a bird’s-eye view of Hagrid’s hut, home to Hogwarts’ groundskeeper.

Fans of the series will immediately recognize Gringotts Wizarding Bank, brought to life in the famous Diagon Alley, as seen in the books and movies.

The filmmakers have recreated Privet Drive, the street where young Harry Potter was sent to live with his relatives, as a large set on the studio lot.

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2026-03-26 00:52