HBO's Harry Potter Series Premieres December 25
The eight-episode reboot will stream weekly on HBO Max after its exclusive debut on HBO, with Dominic McLaughlin cast as Harry Potter.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Television
HBO will premiere its Harry Potter television reboot on December 25, 2026, with three young actors cast as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter in the eight-episode first season, which debuts exclusively on HBO before streaming globally on HBO Max.
Why it matters
The series marks the return of the franchise to screens roughly 15 years after the final Harry Potter film. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry across eight films from 2001 to 2011, said he will probably not watch the new series.
The first season consists of eight weekly episodes, compared with the eight feature films Daniel Radcliffe made from 2001 to 2011. The series arrives roughly 15 years after the last Harry Potter film, and it is unclear how audiences will respond to the new cast.
The players
HBO
HBO is the premium cable network that is producing the Harry Potter series as a multi-season television reboot and will debut it exclusively before streaming on HBO Max.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe is the British actor best known for portraying Harry Potter across eight feature films from 2001 to 2011.
Dominic McLaughlin
Dominic McLaughlin is the young actor cast to play Harry Potter in the HBO series.
The details
Three young actors were cast as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, with Dominic McLaughlin taking the title role. Radcliffe wrote a private letter welcoming McLaughlin to the Wizarding World, and said he does not want to overshadow him or offer advice.
Timeline
2001: Philosopher's Stone, the first Harry Potter film, is released.
2011: Deathly Hallows - Part 2, the final Harry Potter film, is released.
December 25, 2026: The HBO series is scheduled to premiere.
Mid-February 2027: The festive series schedule extends through this period.
Franchise Context
The HBO series revisits the Harry Potter franchise after its eight-film run from 2001 to 2011 ended with Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Recasting the three lead roles with younger actors places the reboot in the same tradition as earlier film-to-television adaptations of long-running book franchises.
The first season will stream exclusively on HBO before reaching HBO Max globally, so viewers will need an HBO or HBO Max subscription to watch it. The weekly release schedule means audiences will get one episode at a time through mid-February 2027.
The takeaway
Viewers who want to follow the Harry Potter reboot should plan for a weekly viewing schedule starting December 25, 2026, and confirm their HBO Max access ahead of time. The series will continue through mid-February 2027, so the eight-episode run spans the holiday season.
What happens next
The HBO Harry Potter series is scheduled to premiere December 25, 2026, with its eight episodes releasing weekly through mid-February 2027.
Further reading
Explore more television news for context on upcoming series like this one.
