The second trailer for HBO’s Harry Potter television series has arrived, and it’s chock full of moments not featured in the original Philosopher’s Stone novel.
Based on the latest footage, it appears both Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton) and Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) will be established before Harry (Dominic McLaughlin) meets them aboard the Hogwarts Express.
This marks a major departure from author J.K. Rowling‘s source material, nearly all of which is told solely from Harry’s point-of-view. It’s still an interesting creative choice that, in theory, will yield more well-rounded characters by showing (rather than telling) how Ron struggles in the shadow of his older brothers and Hermione alienates fellow students before term has even begun.
In addition, we hear a monologue from Janet McTeer’s Professor McGonagall, who encourages the titular boy wizard to find his place at Hogwarts by forging friendships and honing in on subjects that sparks his interest.
Elsewhere, she engages in a conversation with Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (John Lithgow) about how it is preferable to prepare students from danger rather than protecting them from it.
Despite the obvious deviations, however, the trailer contains a plethora of moments that should be instantly recognizable to longtime Potterheads: Voldemort (TBD) showing up in Godric’s Hollow; the Sorting Hat placing Harry into Gryffindor; food magically appearing on house tables in the Great Hall; Snape (Paapa Essiedu) abusing Harry in Potions class; Harry discovering the Mirror of Erised; the brutality of Wizard’s Chess; the Mountain Troll attack on Halloween; the trio and Neville (Rory Wilmot) coming across Fluffy; and Harry flying on his Nimbus 2000 broomstick.
Watch Latest Trailer For HBO’s Harry Potter Television Series
Who stars in the Harry Potter TV show?
The confirmed cast members for HBO’s Harry Potter television series are as follows:
- Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter)
- Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger)
- Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley)
- Gracie Cochrane (Ginny Weasley)
- Tristan Harland (Fred Weasley)
- Gabriel Harland (George Weasley)
- Ruari Spooner (Percy Weasley)
- John Lithgow (Professor Albus Dumbledore)
- Janet McTeer (Professor Minerva McGonagall)
- Paapa Essiedu (Professor Severus Snape)
- Luke Thallon (Professor Quirinus Quirrell)
- Warwick Davis (Professor Filius Flitwick)
- Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid)
- Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley)
- Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy)
- Johnny Flynn (Lucius Malfoy)
- Leo Earley (Seamus Finnigan)
- Alessia Leoni (Parvati Patil)
- Sienna Moosah (Lavender Brown)
- Daniel Rigby (Vernon Dursley)
- Bel Powley (Petunia Dursley)
- Bertie Carvel (Cornelius Fudge)
- Rory Wilmot (Neville Longbottom)
- Amos Kitson (Dudley Dursley)
- Mickey McAnulty (Piers Polkiss)
- Louise Brealey (Madam Rolanda Hooch)
- Anton Lesser (Garrick Ollivander)
- Elijah Oshin (Dean Thomas)
- Finn Stephens (Vincent Crabbe)
- William Nash (Gregory Goyle)
- Sirine Saba (Professor Pomona Sprout)
- Richard Durden (Professor Cuthbert Binns)
- Bríd Brennan (Madam Poppy Pomfrey)
- Richard Durden (Professor Cuthbert Binns)
- Lambert Wilson (Nicholas Flamel)
- Marthe Keller (Perenelle Flamel)
- Leigh Gill (Griphook)
- Peter Serafinowicz (Peeves the poltergeist)
The only cast member who has yet to be announced is Lord Voldemort.
When Does Harry Potter TV Show Come Out?
Season one of the Harry Potter television series premieres on HBO Friday, Dec. 25.
A second season based on Chamber of Secrets received the green-light earlier this year, with Game of Thrones alum Kit Harington singing on to play Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart.
The new adaptation is written and executive produced by showrunner Francesca Gardiner.
Gardiner’s fellow EPs are Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts, David Heyman and series director Mark Mylod.
