The series “Harry Potter” in 2026: when the premiere, who plays and whether it will be released in Russia

Harry Potter will premiere on December 25, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. The first season was called "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", as was the first book by JK Rowling. It will consist of eight episodes.

Originally Warner Bros. Discovery was focused on a later launch, but in the end, the creators appointed a premiere for Christmas 2026 on the Gregorian calendar. By the way, this date falls on the period of celebration of the 25th anniversary of the first film about the young wizard, which was released in November 2001.

Thus, a quarter of a century after the appearance of Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, viewers will return to Hogwarts. However, this time the familiar characters will be played by other actors, and the story will receive a television format.

The first season will focus on the events of the book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. The timing of individual series has not yet been disclosed. The episodes are scheduled to be released once a week, so the season finale is expected in February 2027.

The first season of the Harry Potter series will feature eight episodes. The premiere will be released on Friday, December 25, which is Christmas in the Gregorian calendar. Further, according to foreign media, the episodes will be released once a week on Sundays: this schedule at HBO is usual for major premieres. Officially, the TV channel did not publish the schedule, so the dates after the first series should be considered preliminary.

Expected release dates

Thus, the final of the first season is expected in mid-February 2027.

About the main film premieres of autumn-2026 - read here.

In Russia, the premiere of the series on December 25, 2026 will not officially take place. The reason is that HBO Max does not work in the Russian market, so it will not be possible to watch the novelty directly through this service in the country.

Special attention of fans attracted the news about the Russian dubbing. The online cinema "Amediateka" has prepared a Russian version of the trailer and announced the show in Russian in a number of countries. The list includes Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Tajikistan. Russia is not on this list.

Therefore, the presence of Russian dubbing does not mean that the series will be available to Russian viewers on the official platform on the day of the international premiere.

The situation is related to earlier changes in the market. The rights of Russian online cinemas to screen Harry Potter films ended in early 2023. After that, the usual for viewers legal access to the films of the franchise has changed.

On November 13, 2026, the official release date of the series in Russia and a separate Russian distributor have not been announced. Information about the show in other countries does not confirm plans to launch the project in Russia.

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One of the most discussed moments of preparation for the shooting was the search for actors for the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione. The creators decided to hold a large-scale open casting.

As a result, the main trio consisted of young British actors who will spend several years in the magical world of screen history.

Harry Potter as Dominic McLaughlin. The actor got the main role in the series. Previously, he starred in the project “Gifted”. Now he has to play a boy who learns about his magical origins, enters Hogwarts and gradually discovers the secrets of his family. Hermione Granger as Arabella Stanton. The actress will embody one of the most recognizable heroines of Potterian. Hermione is known for her knowledge, responsibility and desire to understand even the most difficult magical issues. Ron Weasley as Alastair Stout (Stoat). The actor will play Harry’s best friend and the Weasley family. Together with Hermione, Ron will become part of the main trinity around which the story will develop. All three were selected after a long selection. The creators noted that they were looking for performers who could not only convey the characters of the book heroes, but also grow up with them for several seasons.

The adult cast of the series turned out to be stellar. HBO invited actors with experience in major television and film projects. Albus Dumbledore as John Lithgow. The actor is known for the film “Conclave” and the series “Dexter”. He played the director of Hogwarts, one of the most influential wizards of his time. Minerva McGonagall as Janet McTeer. The actress, known for the films “Mysterious Albert Nobbs” and the series “Kaos”, will play a strict but fair teacher of transfiguration. Severus Snape as Paapa Essiedou (Essiedou). The actor starred in the TV series “I can destroy you” and “Gangs of London”. His appointment caused active controversy among fans of the original adaptation, as the appearance of the new Snape is different from the image of Alan Rickman. Rubeus Hagrid as Nick Frost. The actor, familiar to viewers from the films “Zombie named Sean” and “Armageddian”, will play the key keeper and forester Hogwarts. Quirinus Quirrell as Luke Tallon (Tallon). The actor will play a teacher of defense against the dark arts, who will become one of the important characters of the first season. Argus Filch as Paul Whitehouse. The British actor will play a caretaker of a school known for his uneasy character and dislike of discipline breakers.

In the series will appear and other characters, without which it is impossible to imagine the beginning of the story of Harry. The Dursley family will be played by Bel Pauli (Petunja Dursl), Daniel Rigby (Vernon Dursl) and Amos Kitson (Dudley Dursl). The Malfoy family will be represented by Johnny Flynn (Lucius Malfoy) and Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy). In the roles of members of the Weasley family, viewers will see Catherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley), Gracie Cochrane (Ginni Weasley), Ruari Spooner (Percy Weasley), Tristan and Gabriel Harland (Fred and George Weasley).

Ginny Weasley played by Gracie Cochrane will appear only in the first season. In May 2026, the actress and her family announced that she was leaving the project "under unforeseen circumstances." From the second season, the role will go to Bonnie Hill, HBO announced in early September. Neville Longpoops will play Rory Wilmot. Also in the first season will appear James and Lily Potter played by Jasper Talbot and Hannah Chinn.

The role of adult Voldemort has not yet been officially announced. The creators do not disclose who got the image of the main antagonist of the entire saga. The head of HBO Casey Bloys denied appearing in the press reports about the alleged actor. One of the most popular options among fans is Irish actor Killian Murphy ("Peaky Blinders", "Oppenheimer"). Tilda Swinton’s name (Orlando, Doctor Strange) also appeared in the discussions. However, there is no evidence that any of them got the role. At the same time, it is known who will play the young Tom Riddle: in the second season, Billy Barratt got this role - more about him and other new actors below.

Open casting for the main roles began in the autumn of 2024. They were looking for children between the ages of 9 and 11 from the UK and Ireland. According to the project, more than 30 thousand applications were received for selection. Applicants were asked to record two videos. The first was to read a poem or an excerpt from a literary work unrelated to Harry Potter. In the second, the participants talked about themselves and a loved one or a pet. The producers stated that the choice of actors will not be limited to ethnicity, gender or disability. In May 2025, Francesca Gardiner and Mark Milod announced that they had found the three leading roles. According to the creators, the talent of young actors became a decisive factor in the approval of the caste.

Talk about a possible series in the Harry Potter universe appeared in 2021. Then the media reported about the negotiations of Warner Bros. with authors who could deal with the television adaptation of the books. However, the project was at an early stage and there were no specific production plans. Officially about the development of the series Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO announced in April 2023. The company decided to re-screen all seven novels by J.K. Rowling, rather than continuing the story of the original film series. An important condition was the participation of the writer. JK Rowling joined the project as an executive producer and consultant. Its task is to ensure that the new version retains a connection with the literary source.

The main creative figure of the series was Francesca Gardiner, who acted as a showrunner and screenwriter. Previously, she worked on the series “Heirs”, “Dark beginnings” and “Killing Eve”. Several episodes were directed and executive produced by Mark Milod. His famous works include Game of Thrones and Heirs. Gardiner and Milod’s joint experience in creating large-scale television stories was one of the important factors in the formation of the team. Special attention was paid to musical accompaniment. The work on the music for the series was entrusted to Hans Zimmer, the author of the soundtracks for the films Interstellar, Inception and Gladiator. Filming of the first season began in July 2025 and ended in May 2026. The main production site was the British studio Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. It was there that the original Harry Potter films were shot. To create a magical world, the team used both studio sets and real locations. According to estimates based on the financial statements of the production company Plum Jam Productions, the budget for one episode could be about $25 million. This is an estimated amount: HBO has not officially disclosed the cost of production. With this budget, the series has become one of the most ambitious television projects of recent years.

The presence of the writer in the project team has become a subject of discussion. In recent years, JK Rowling has been repeatedly criticized for her comments. Some fans of Potteriana opposed her participation in the new film adaptation. And Warner Bros. Discovery did not refuse to cooperate with the author of the books. HBO stressed that the main priority remains the story itself, and Rowling’s involvement is important to maintain the originality.

The writer was also positive about the television adaptation. In her opinion, the format of the series gives an opportunity to show more details that could not be fully transferred to the big screen.

The first season is based on the novel “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. The story begins with the life of a boy who grows up in the Dursley family and knows almost nothing about his own past. Everything changes when Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts and learns he is a wizard. Soon he goes to magic school, where he meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Together they have to settle into a new world, study magical objects and understand the secrets associated with Harry's past.

The main difference between the new film adaptation and the films is the amount of screen time. Films were limited in duration, so some episodes, characters, and storylines had to be cut or eliminated.

The television format allows you to pay more attention to secondary characters, school life and the structure of the wizarding world. In particular, fans hope to see stories and characters that didn’t get a full place in the original film series.

The creators initially stated that each season will be based on a separate book. That means viewers will be able to gradually walk Harry's entire journey, from the first days at Hogwarts to the final events of the saga.

Promotion of the project began long before the premiere. In March 2026, the creators presented the first frame and teaser trailer. It was then that the audience first got the opportunity to appreciate the appearance of the new Harry Potter and the atmosphere of the future show.

In September, a full trailer was released, which revealed more details about the plot and characters. It showed the Dursley family, Harry’s meeting with Hagrid, the Hogwarts Express and the hero’s first impressions of the magical world.

Other notable scenes include the distribution of students to the faculties using a distributing hat and episodes related to Quidditch.

In early October 2026, a duplicate version of the trailer in Russian was presented.

In late October, a poster with a premiere date appeared, and in early November, HBO showed additional footage, including images of Hogwarts.

Work on the continuation began even before the release of the first season. In May 2026, HBO officially launched a second season. It will be based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Filming began in the autumn of 2026. Along with the already familiar characters in the series will appear new characters, so the cast continues to expand. Among the announced performers of the second season: Zlatobust Locons – Keith Harington. The actor is known for the series “Game of Thrones”. He will replace Nicholas Holt, who was previously associated with the role.

Jeannie Weasley as Bonnie Hill. The actress will replace Gracie Cochrane, who played Ginny in the first season. In The Secret Room, this character becomes one of the central figures of the plot.

Dobby is Lenny Rush. The British actor and TV presenter will play a house elf who in the second book tries to keep Harry from returning to Hogwarts.

Tom Riddle as Billy Barratt. The young Voldemort will be played by a British actor, who at the age of 13 became the youngest winner of the international Emmy Award for his role in the TV movie Responsible Child. Viewers he is familiar in the series “Invasion”, where he plays a major role since 2021. In the second book, Riddle’s diary is the key to the secret room.

Arthur Weasley as Rafe Spall. The actor will join the story as the father of the Weasley family.

Cry Myrtle by Molly Hewitt-Richards. She will play one of the most memorable inhabitants of Hogwarts.

Colin Creavey as Jasper Ambrose. The character will appear in a story about the secrets of the school.

The exact release date for the HBO sequel has not yet been announced. If the series consistently covers all seven books, viewers will see seven seasons. But don’t expect new seasons to appear every year: the project is designed for about ten years, and the production of each part requires significant time and resources.

When will the Harry Potter series come out? The premiere of the first season is scheduled for December 25, 2026. It will be released on HBO and HBO Max. How many episodes will there be in the first season? The first season of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone will consist of eight episodes. The new series is scheduled to be released weekly. Will the series be released in Russia? On November 13, 2026, the official date of the Russian premiere has not been announced. Who will play Harry Potter, Hermione and Ron? The main roles were received by Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter), Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger) and Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley). Who will play Voldemort in Harry Potter? The role of adult Voldemort has not yet been announced. Rumors of the involvement of Killian Murphy and Tilda Swinton have not been officially confirmed. How many seasons will there be in Harry Potter? A total of seven seasons are planned - one for each book by J.K. Rowling. The project is designed for about ten years, so new parts will not be released annually. When's season two coming out? The second season, based on the book "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", is already in production. Filming began in the fall of 2026, but the exact date of the premiere is still unknown.