Whether you like the idea or hate it, there's a new Harry Potter series on the way, and there's nothing we can do about it.
HBO is making the series with a commitment to adapt all seven novels. The entire series is expected to take around a decade to complete. While a release date is still some time away, season 1 has recently started filming, and we're getting first glimpses of new cast members in costume as iconic characters.

The Harry Potter series has attracted a few big names to its cast. For instance, John Lithgow plays Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost plays fan-favorite Hagrid, Janet McTeer plays Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu takes on the role of Professor of Potions, Severus Snape.
The titular role is taken on by Dominic McLaughlin, who was cast in the show after upwards of 30,000 children auditioned for the three key roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) and Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton).
Dominic McLaughlin talks Harry Potter role for the first time
The 11-year-old actor has worked on upcoming comedy drama Grow—which, as it happens, also features his Harry Potter co-star Nick Frost. Grow aside, McLaughlin is a relatively unknown actor. He's being thrust into the deep end with Harry Potter. It doesn't get much bigger than the Wizarding World, not least being the main character, tasked with ushering in a new generation of fans.
In a recent interview with BBC News, McLaughlin was asked about stepping into the role of Harry. Naturally, he's feeling the pressure, saying stepping into Harry's Hogwarts uniform felt “a bit surreal to be honest, because I was always a huge ‘Harry Potter’ fan when I was younger,” he said, adding that landing the part “was like the dream role, of course, so I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it.”
Dominic McLaughlin (Harry) with Nick Frost's body double (Hagrid) filming the HARRY POTTER TV series pic.twitter.com/QKYJ6kypst
— Wizarding World Direct (@WW_Direct) August 18, 2025
He's looking good as Harry, too. With filming ongoing, there have been numerous leaks from the set making their way online. There's one in particular, seen above, featuring him alongside the body double of Nick Frost's Hagrid. They look perfect. Given that everyone is going to compare them to the original actors, Daniel Radcliffe and Robbie Coltrane, they don't look like they're cosplaying the classics.
HBO's Harry Potter season 1 is expected to wrap filming in 2026. The series does not have a release date yet—these are still early days—but it's confirmed for sometime in 2027.