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Culture March 25, 2026

New 'Harry Potter' series releases 1st teaser, sets Christmas Day premiere

WATCH: Meet the new Boy Who Lived - 'Harry Potter' production gets underway

The Boy Who Lived is returning for a brand-new era.

On Wednesday, HBO released the official teaser trailer for the first season of its upcoming "Harry Potter" series, officially titled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

The network also announced the series will premiere Christmas Day on HBO Max.

"There is nothing special about Harry Potter -- at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says," the series' official logline reads. "On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past."

Dominic McLaughlin leads the cast as the iconic Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.

"I've always wanted to know about my parents," McLaughlin says as Harry in the trailer.

The trailer also shows Nick Frost as Hagrid, who tells Harry, "Your parents were the kindest, bravest people I ever met. They were funny and clever, and they stood up for what they believed was right. And the next time I see you will be in Hogwarts."

The teaser also includes glimpses of Harry boarding the Hogwarts Express and arriving at Hogwarts, with brief looks at the Great Hall, the Quidditch pitch, and the Sorting Hat, all classic moments from the first "Harry Potter" book.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron asks Harry in the trailer's final moments.

When Harry confirms, Ron jokingly makes an explosion sound while pointing to the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead.

The new HBO show is described as a faithful adaptation of the books by J.K. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer on the series.

The books previously spawned an eight-movie film franchise, released between 2001 and 2011, which starred Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.