Darcie 
Can the new Harry Potter series cast its spell and capture the hearts of fans on HBO Max? Darcie offers her reaction to the first trailer.
We finally have our first look at the HBO Max Harry Potter TV reboot! Since the 2025 announcement, HBO and Harry Potter have been sharing casting choices and key creative personnel. But everything else has been kept under wraps. The reboot is happening sooner than most of us had expected, given that the films ended only fifteen years ago. This has led to mixed reactions.
My own personal feelings have been pretty mixed; on the one hand, it feels too soon. The emotional connection I have to the books and films inspired me to pursue film as a career. I have asked myself why you would want to recreate what was already perfect? But as time has gone on, I have found myself warming to the idea of the TV series; it is not a replacement for the films but rather a different adaptation of the books. One that could be more faithful to the books, and for those of us who love Harry Potter, is it really a bad thing?
Now that we have our first look at the show, I am feeling remarkably positive. Excited even! A well-edited trailer can have that effect on me. But it goes beyond the magic of the edit. It’s the visuals, the tone, and the world that we’ve finally gotten a glimpse at. We are entering an exciting new decade of Harry Potter, and I’m actually looking forward to it! So what did we learn from the trailer?
Harry in the Muggle World
The trailer opens with Petunia Dursley (Bel Powley) telling Harry (Dominic McLaughlin) that there is nothing special about him. We get to see Harry in the Muggle world, at his Muggle school, where he is an outcast for having odd clothes (Dudley’s hand-me-downs). We see a perfectly cast Dudley (Amos Kitson) terrorising Harry. Cut to Petunia cutting Harry’s messy hair – hair, book readers will know will grow back overnight. The final shot we get of the Muggle world is Hagrid (Nick Frost) and Harry on the underground! These are all such small yet memorable scenes of the first book. It’s exciting to see these brought to life.
Hogwarts
We get some fantastic shots of Hogwarts Castle, which seem like a blend of the original film castle, Hogwarts Legacy, and a new vision. The design looks complex, well-created, and cleverly constructed. We see what seems to be the entrance hall, a blurry shot of the Gryffindor common room, and a glance at the herbology classrooms. Not enough to feast our eyes on, but enough to get us excited. The details concealed but hinted at, it’s the perfect tease that builds anticipation. I want to see the Great Hall, the exterior of the castle! Give us more!!
Themes of Fun
There is an excitement to the trailer. They have taken great care to show Harry, Ron (Alastair Stout), and Hermione (Arabella Stanton) – the golden trio, laughing and enjoying their first year at Hogwarts. From the trailer alone, we can tell the tone is going to be very different; it’s going to have a lightness the films did not. It already feels charming. But it goes beyond the laughter: it’s seeing Hagrid in the snow, the epic depiction of Quidditch, the roasting of marshmallows, and the instant joy between Harry and Ron on the Hogwarts Express. This is going to be joyous, and I know it’s going to make the sadder moments all the more heartbreaking to watch.
There is a lot to like about this trailer, and a lot that I would still like to see. The design looks fresh and intricate, and the tone seems fun. It’s a brilliant trailer that leaves us wanting more. Whilst one trailer cannot define the overall quality of the show, it does set the tone. I’m excited, still a little tentative, but I want more.
Harry Potter will air in December 2026, and I cannot wait for the build-up until then! Each season of the show is expected to be devoted to one of J.K. Rowling’s novels, meaning fans can look forward to seven seasons of Harry Potter adventures.
Darcie Gray is the Fashion Editor of The Future of the Force. Aside from being a passionate Star Wars fan, she loves every genre of movies and she channels her passion for film into her personal blog Just Another Film Blog. Follow her on Twitter where she shares her love of film regularly.
