We’re getting a series adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — this may not necessarily be a good thing.
The trailer for the latest addition to the franchise just dropped, and it introduces us to a new roster of actors entering the Harry Potter universe. We see a young, bright-eyed Harry (Dominic McLaughlin) survive the abusive tirades of his aunt Petunia (Bel Powley), ram his way through the wall at Platform 9 ¾, and introduce himself to an equally starry-eyed Ron (Alastair Stout) and Hermione (Arabella Stanton). He can also be spotted taking his Nimbus 2000 to the Quidditch field and receiving his very first wand from Ollivander (Anton Lesser).
If this all sounds familiar, that’s because the series is following pretty much the same beats as the film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s widely acclaimed novel. Over the past few years, Rowling has repeatedly made headlines due to her remarks against transgender people and her vocal opinions that align with that of trans exclusionary radical feminism (or, in short, we’re calling her a TERF). Rowling herself is an executive producer on the series, drawing contention even from several of the actors on the show.
“She’s allowed her opinion and I’m allowed mine, they just don’t align in any way, shape or form,” actor Nick Frost, who plays Hagrid in the upcoming series, told Deadline.
John Lithgow, who plays Albus Dumbledore, told The New York Times that he almost pulled out of the series due to the backlash he’d received from accepting the role. “Every interview I will ever do for the rest of my life, this will come up,” he said.
As a former Potterhead who grew up watching Rowling burn down all of her public dignity with her transphobia, I find it difficult to see the merits of revamping the novels on the small screen, especially given her direct involvement with the adaptation. Over the years, Rowling has dug her own metaphorical grave with her hateful rhetoric, bringing the Harry Potter franchise down in the dirt with her. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have all publicly denounced the author, with very few of the original cast standing on her side (ahem, Tom Felton).
Moreover, considering how it looks like the series will not be straying far, if at all, from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, I can’t see why there would be a need to revise the film and novel at all (except if this were merely a cash grab). We’ll just have to wait for this Christmas to see what the show is like in its entirety, but so far, it definitely lacks magic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dominic McLaughlin stars as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout plays Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger in HBO’s series adaptation. The young cast leads the decade-long project adapting J.K. Rowling’s seven novels.
The supporting cast features John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. Warwick Davis also returns to reprise his role as Professor Flitwick.
Yes, J.K. Rowling serves as an executive producer on the series. Her direct involvement has sparked widespread debate and pushback due to her public history of anti-transgender statements and rhetoric.
The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, consists of eight episodes and is scheduled to premiere globally on HBO and HBO Max on December 25, 2026.
While HBO’s series plans to cover more background details from the books across multi-episode seasons, initial footage reveals a loyal retelling of The Philosopher’s Stone that mirrors the narrative beats of the 2001 feature film.
Recommended Video
