Accio Camera! First Look at HBO's New Potter, and Blimey, They're Actually Filming!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
HBO's finally started filming its new Harry Potter series, and we've got our first look at the new Harry! Seems they're pulling out all the stops, and we're all hoping it doesn't turn into a Whomping Willow-sized disaster.
Right then, Potterheads! Seems HBO's finally whipped out its wand and started filming the new Harry Potter telly series. And, fair dinkum, we've got a glimpse of the new Chosen One. IGN South Africa (bless their cotton socks) dropped a behind-the-scenes photo, and it's got everyone buzzing like a Niffler in Gringotts.
There he is: Dominic McLaughlin, the 11-year-old lad tasked with filling the perpetually bewildered shoes of Harry Potter. Scar? Check. Hogwarts robes? Check. First slate for the series? Double-check! Mark Mylod (director) and Adriano Goldman (director of photography) are also on board, so we know they aren't mucking around. It's all happening! And according to the slate, the photo was taken on July 14, 2025 – feels like a lifetime away, doesn't it?
But hold your Hippogriffs, there's more! HBO's also chucked a load of casting announcements our way. Rory Wilmot will be sporting the gormless grin of Neville Longbottom, and Amos Kitson gets to be the bane of Harry's existence as Dudley Dursley (hopefully he's been practicing his 'I want more presents!' whine). Louise Brealey, who you might recognize as Molly Hooper from *Sherlock*, is trading morgues for broomsticks as Madam Rolanda Hooch, the Quidditch instructor. And Anton Lesser, that sneaky Qyburn from *Game of Thrones*, will be lending his talents to the legendary wandmaker, Garrick Ollivander. Sounds like a solid crew to me.
Of course, some familiar faces are already confirmed: John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid (pub quiz trivia: Frost was originally cast as Hagrid in the films, but he was deemed 'too famous' – talk about a what-if scenario!), Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley. Speaking of Snape, Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy himself) recently defended Essiedu's casting against some… let's just say *uninspired* criticism. Good on him, I reckon. Some people clearly missed the memo about diversity and inclusion in the wizarding world.
Now, the big question: When can we actually watch this thing? Well, HBO's aiming for a late 2026 or early 2027 debut. That's a bloody long wait, but they're planning to dedicate a whole season to each of the seven books. So, we're looking at a *massive* production that'll span the rest of this decade and beyond. Crikey!
So, is this going to be a magical return to Hogwarts, or will it be a case of 'the book was better'? Only time will tell. But for now, I'm cautiously optimistic. Let's just hope they don't mess with the source material too much. We don't want another 'Cursed Child' situation, do we? (Shudders)
Tags: Harry Potter, HBO, Casting News, TV Adaptation, Fantasy
Original article: IGN South Africa