HBO is standing by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, despite the ongoing controversy regarding her anti-transgender views.
In the new trailer (watch below) for Season 1, which is officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, HBO name-drops the author at the 57-second mark: “Based on the beloved books by J.K. Rowling.” It could have simply said “Based on the beloved books,” but the explicit credit signals that HBO is not distancing itself from Rowling, who remains an executive producer on the TV show.
Although Rowling won’t be writing any scripts for the project, she claimed on social media that “I’ve worked closely with the extremely talented writers.” Notably, as an executive producer, she would receive an Emmy nomination if the show gets in for Best Drama Series at next year’s ceremony.
The studio has mostly steered clear from specifically addressing Rowling’s views. HBO chairman and CEO Casey Bloys said in 2023: “That’s a very online conversation, obviously very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into. Our priority is what’s on the screen. Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance.”
Read on for everything to know about HBO’s Harry Potter TV show:
THE CAST
The main cast members for Season 1 are: Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as 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.
Notable guest stars include the following: 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.
WHAT ABOUT NICHOLAS HOULT?
On Aug. 28, there was a major cast shake-up for Season 2 as Kit Harington replaced Nicholas Hoult in the role of Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Hoult blamed a scheduling conflict, though conspiracy theorists suspected he dropped out after experiencing backlash for daring to be associated with Rowling, whose public support (both politically and financially) of anti-trans initiatives has made her an online pariah.
THE TRAILER
On Sept. 2, HBO officially released the full-length teaser for Season 1. The two-and-a-half-minute video opens with a train whistle and Prof. McGonagall declaring, “Before the start-of-term banquet, first-years will partake in the sorting ceremony.” The central characters are all introduced, with Prof. Dumbledore proudly proclaiming, “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts.” The trailer ends with Harry and Ron puzzling over a copy of The Philosopher’s Stone book, as Hermione asks, “Oh, come on, don’t you two read?”
THE PLOT
Here is the official logline for the first 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. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.”
THE RELEASE DATE
The eight-episode first season kicks off on Christmas Day, 2026, with the series premiere. Additional episodes will air weekly on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
THE CREATIVES
Based on J.K. Rowling’s books, the series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes. Additional EPs include Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman. Hans Zimmer will compose the music.
THE PRODUCTION
Filming officially began in July of 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, U.K. Leavesden houses the sets from the original film adaptations and is a popular tourist destination.
THE BACKSTORY
First revealed as a possibility in early 2021, the TV show is expected to last for several years. “The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a press release in 2023. “Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic, and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
THE RACIST ATTACKS
Aside from the controversy over Rowling’s anti-trans views, new Snape actor Paapa Essiedu (best known to U.S. audiences for co-starring opposite Michaela Coel on HBO’s I May Destroy You), who’s taking over the role from the late Alan Rickman, received threats from a small, but vocal group of racist trolls because he is Black, resulting in increased security on set. “The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you,’” he told the Times earlier this year. “I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”
AWARDS PROSPECTS
Expect Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to be a below-the-line favorite at the 2027 Emmys and various guild awards, thanks to its impressive technical achievements. (Unless, of course, voters are soured by Rowling’s anti-trans views.) Lithgow and McTeer should also be considered possible acting nominees due to being Hollywood favorites.
HBO’s reboot will not, however, be in the running for Best Ensemble or any other category at the 2027 Actor Awards, due to recent SAG-AFTRA rule changes. The eligibility tweaks mainly concern series that premiere toward the end of 2026 and finish sometime in the new year, which is very much the case with Harry Potter. Thus, it will have to wait until the 2028 Actor Awards to compete.
