A new trailer for the first season of the Harry Potter TV series has been released, prompting criticism from fans who have noted its strong resemblance to the original film adaptations. The show, an adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s book series, is set to debut on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
The trailer showcases several well-known moments from the stories, including Harry under the sorting hat, a view of the Quidditch pitch, and Hogwarts’ Great Hall. The colour palette has shifted from a desaturated look in an earlier trailer to a more vibrant style, similar to the movies.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) have questioned the necessity of the new series, with one user stating, “This still looks virtually identical to the movies just with a different cast, like what’s the point?” Another commented, “I mean.. it looks like the movies we already have but with worse casting choices.”
Dominic McLaughlin is cast in the lead role, supported by John Lithgow as Professor Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. The second season is already in production, with Kit Harington taking over the role of Gilderoy Lockhart from Nicholas Hoult.