Published Oct 25, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT
Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.
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It feels like this year has gone particularly slowly, but since we got our acceptance letters to Hogwarts and boarded the old red steam train on September 1st, things have started ramping up. Between eight blockbuster movies, enormous theme park attractions, and millions of books sold around the world, J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World has never really gone away. But now, a whole new generation is about to receive its Hogwarts letter and the clock is ticking.
HBO’s new Harry Potter television series will premiere on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, meaning there’s now just two months until audiences return to Hogwarts. The first season will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone across eight episodes, giving the story considerably more room to explore the characters, friendships and magical adventures that made the original novel such a phenomenon. The series will air on HBO and stream on HBO Max, including in the United Kingdom.
Now, if you’ve been living under a rock for the last 30 years, let us explain: The stories follow the 11-year-old Harry Potter, who’s been living with his vile guardians, the Dursleys, ever since his parents died when he was a baby. However, his life changes when he receives a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry offering him a place at the magical boarding school. There, he makes new friends, discovers what a Pumpkin Pastie is, learns how to play wizard chess and figures out just how important he is in the future of the world at large.
After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
The cast is led by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. They are joined by John Lithgow (Conclave) as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer (Ozark) as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) as Severus Snape, Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) as Rubeus Hagrid, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy. The adaptation is overseen by showrunner Francesca Gardiner (Succession), with Mark Mylod (The Last of Us) directing multiple episodes. Rowling also serves as an executive producer alongside David Heyman, who produced the original movie franchise.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max, with eight episodes making up the first season.
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Francisca Gardiner
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