HBO has released the first extended clip from its Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone reboot, offering fans an early look at the magical Hogwarts banquet.
The surprise 90-second preview of the upcoming TV series, due to premiere on December 25, shows Hogwarts students enjoying their traditional start-of-term feast.
Once the new arrivals have been sorted into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, they take their places inside the Great Hall.
The students begin chanting, “Dumbledore! Dumbledore!”, repeatedly drumming their hands on the empty tables as the headmaster looks on, laughing.
In the scene, Harry Potter, played by Dominic McLaughlin, asks whether Albus Dumbledore, portrayed by John Lithgow, is “a bit mad”.
His new friend Ron Weasley, played by Alastair Stout, answers: “Yep, totally off his rocker.”
HBO has released the first extended clip from the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone reboot, giving viewers a glimpse of the Hogwarts banquet
After being sorted into their houses, the new arrivals take their seats in the Great Hall and chant, “Dumbledore! Dumbledore!” before the headmaster laughs and clicks his fingers
Dumbledore then clicks his fingers, summoning an extravagant feast. Roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and chicken wings appear in seemingly limitless quantities.
Harry takes a bite of a chicken wing and clearly enjoys it. But when he reaches towards the centre of the table for another, the food suddenly vanishes.
His disappointment is short-lived, as the plates are swiftly filled again with an assortment of desserts, including meringues, éclairs, profiteroles, trifle, doughnuts, pies and cakes.
At the top table, Dumbledore turns to Minerva McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer, and asks whether she is pleased to have Harry in her Gryffindor house.
“The cat that got the cream?” he asks. “Admit it, you’re pleased that he’s in your house.”
McGonagall replies: “Well, he is the spit of James [Potter]. I can’t believe it. It’s uncanny.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Minerva. His nature is entirely his own,” Dumbledore responds.
The preview also introduces Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) asks whether Albus Dumbledore (John Lithgow) is “a bit mad”. Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) replies: “Yep, totally off his rocker”
Dumbledore clicks his fingers, causing an extravagant banquet of roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and chicken wings to appear
Harry enjoys a chicken wing and reaches for another, only for the food to magically disappear from the centre of the table
Harry looks disappointed before the plates are replaced with desserts including meringues, éclairs, profiteroles, trifle, doughnuts, pies and cakes
The new footage arrives after Daniel Radcliffe appeared to dismiss the upcoming series, saying he has no plans to watch it.
Radcliffe, 37, became famous at the age of 11 when he was cast as the titular boy wizard in the eight Harry Potter films released between 2001 and 2011. He starred alongside Rupert Grint, 38, and Emma Watson, 36, who played Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
The actor said he had already spent a great deal of time in the Harry Potter universe and had other shows on his list before considering the HBO remake.
Speaking to the Associated Press, he said: “I don’t know if I will [watch], honestly. I’ve been in a lot of Harry Potter already… and also I don’t watch any TV.
“I haven’t seen Breaking Bad. I haven’t seen Mad Men. I haven’t seen some of the real classics. So, you know, eight hours is a lot of anything to watch.”
Radcliffe also explained that, although he, Grint and Watson had not had “a ton of communication about the show specifically”, they shared feelings of nostalgia and protectiveness towards the new young cast.
His comments follow a recent appeal to Harry Potter fans not to place the new child actors under pressure by comparing them with the original cast.
Radcliffe said he did not want to become a “weird spectral phantom” in the lives of the young performers.
He said he was certain “Dominic is going to be better than me” and urged fans to let the new actors “get on with it” as he discussed the challenges of becoming famous at a young age.
“In some ways I think getting famous when you are young is almost easier because then all the weird things about fame are so intertwined with your life that they don’t feel weird when you come up against them,” he said.
“There was a whole thing when these kids got cast like, ‘We have to look after them.’ If you mean that, one of the things people can do is not ask about us.”
Speaking to Screen Rant, Radcliffe added: “I would like not to be weird spectral phantoms in these children’s lives and just let them get on with it.”
He continued: “It’s going to be a new thing, a different thing and they’re going to be better than me, I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me.
“I learned as I went. I look back at what I did now with a lot more kindness and I find it less embarrassing now that I’m older.”
Dumbledore asks Minerva McGonagall (Janet McTeer) whether she is pleased that Harry has been placed in Gryffindor. “Admit it, you’re pleased that he’s in your house,” he says
The scene also features Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger (L)
The 90-second preview shows Hogwarts students sitting down to their start-of-term feast in the Great Hall
Offering advice to the young cast, Radcliffe said: “I would say, have the best time and lean on the crew. Everyone has an image of how we were all raised on the set by the best British actors, but Maggie Smith wasn’t coming in and giving me advice on how to grow up. That’s not their job.
“The people that we were really close to were the crew. The crew were some of my best friends, they are still the people who I am really close to.”
Other cast members joining the HBO series include Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch and Anton Lesser, best known for playing Qyburn in Game Of Thrones, as Garrick Ollivander.
Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby were announced as Mr and Mrs Dursley earlier this year.
Paapa Essiedu, meanwhile, takes on the darker and more complex role of Severus Snape, a character made famous on screen by the late Alan Rickman.
Since the series was announced in 2023, the new Harry Potter adaptation has faced controversy from anti-Rowling activists. Nicholas Hoult also withdrew from the project this year.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is a prominent defender of women’s rights, but some campaigners have accused her of being transphobic.
Several actors joining the new production have faced criticism from Rowling’s opponents, who believe adaptations of her work should be boycotted. Rowling is serving as an executive producer on HBO’s series.
The TV adaptation arrives around a decade and a half after the original film franchise, based on Rowling’s best-selling books, concluded. It has been described as a more faithful adaptation of the novels than the earlier cinematic versions.
Despite the excitement from HBO and many Harry Potter fans, the series has been surrounded by controversy since its announcement.
Promoted as the “streaming event of the decade”, the show has nevertheless faced boycott threats from former Potterheads over the continuing dispute surrounding Rowling’s comments about transgender people.
With several high-profile stars attached, HBO executives are clearly hoping the enduring appeal of the Wizarding World will outweigh the criticism.
The new preview follows Daniel Radcliffe’s comments that he does not plan to watch the upcoming Harry Potter TV series
With one month to go before the series is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day, a number of controversies have already emerged.
In May, reports revealed that the actor originally cast as Ginny Weasley had left the production.
There have also been reports of thefts from the prop room, while the series does not have the support of original Harry Potter director Chris Columbus.
Essiedu has also said he faced death threats after being cast as Severus Snape.
Discussing the racist abuse he experienced, the actor said some trolls objected to a Black man playing the fictional wizard and told him: “Quit or I’ll murder you.” Alan Rickman previously played the role in the films.
The production has additionally faced what were described as “alarming” bullying allegations, including claims that two 12-year-old extras were seen fighting on set.
According to reports published in March, Warner Bros. bosses intervened and issued warnings to adults and children. They also reportedly threatened to remove anyone from the series, regardless of their profile, if misconduct continued.
A source said: “There are a lot of youngsters on set at any one time, and the reality is that not everyone is going to get on. It’s an alarming problem and bosses want to get rid of any bad eggs among the cast and crew.
“Bosses have issued warnings about behaviour. The bullying accusations have involved adults and children. It has been made clear that anyone reported for bullying will be immediately axed, no matter how famous they may be.”
HBO’s Harry Potter series is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day on HBO Max.