HBO on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, released the official second teaser for the eight-episode first season of its original series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Warner Bros. Discovery said in a WBD Pressroom release. The series will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

The second teaser follows the first official teaser and Christmas 2026 premiere announcement WBD issued March 25, 2026. Season 1 remains titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

What the new teaser shows

Deadline and The Guardian, covering the drop Wednesday, said the new footage opens around the Sorting Ceremony — with Harry (Dominic McLaughlin), Ron (Alastair Stout) and Hermione (Arabella Stanton) arriving as Albus Dumbledore (John Lithgow) welcomes students to a new year at Hogwarts — and includes more of Minerva McGonagall (Janet McTeer) and Severus Snape (Paapa Essiedu) than the March teaser. The Guardian said the trailer also shows Harry with the invisibility cloak, Quidditch, and a confrontation with Snape. Those scene descriptions are from secondary coverage of the released teaser; WBD’s press note confirmed the second teaser’s release and Christmas 2026 window without a shot-by-shot breakdown.

WBD’s Season 1 logline: There is nothing special about Harry Potter — or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.

Cast and credits

Per WBD, the series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, among others. Additional cast named in the Sept. 2 release includes Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley as Vernon and Petunia Dursley, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.

The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s books, is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod executive produces and directs multiple episodes for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers also include Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.

Dated Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026: HBO’s second teaser is the fullest official look yet at Season 1 ahead of a Christmas 2026 premiere on HBO and HBO Max — still months out, but no longer a March placeholder.

Sources