HBO has released a fresh, longer trailer for its television adaptation of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” offering the most detailed look yet at newcomer Dominic McLaughlin’s Harry navigating his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The footage shows Harry, Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) and Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton) arriving at Hogwarts and going through the sorting ceremony, with the trio appearing to land together in Gryffindor House. It also teases Harry’s Herbology and Potions classes, his introduction to Quidditch, a confrontation with a mountain troll, a game of wizard’s chess — including the giant, dangerous version the trio must play as one of the trials guarding the Philosopher’s Stone — and his first use of the Invisibility Cloak and the Mirror of Erised.
The new trailer also gives a closer look at the Hogwarts faculty, including John Lithgow as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape. In one exchange highlighted by TVLine, Snape needles Harry in Potions class: “Let’s hope you show some talent on the Quidditch pitch, Potter.”
HBO has framed the series as a book-by-book adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seven-novel series, with the eight-episode first season covering “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (released in the U.S. as “The Sorcerer’s Stone”). The show has already been renewed for a second season, which will adapt “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”
The Season 1 cast also includes Nick Frost as groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, Paul Whitehouse as caretaker Argus Filch, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, alongside young actors Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnegan, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom and Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas. Cochrane will not return for Season 2; her family said in a statement she is “stepping away” from the role for “unforeseen circumstances,” and HBO has said the part will be recast.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” debuts this Christmas on HBO and HBO Max.
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