Books vs Series · The unofficial guide to HBO's Harry Potter
The unofficial guide to HBO’s Harry Potter: the latest news, the episodes, the cast, and every difference between J.K. Rowling’s books and the series.
Posted by Will on 13 November 2026
The three young stars of the series gave an interview to Scholastic News, the classroom magazine, about their auditions, the day they found out they had the parts, and what filming has been like.
We have the highlights, and a picture of the article.
Posted by Will on 10 November 2026
Paapa Essiedu, the series’ Snape, told Vanity Fair that he read Deathly Hallows so quickly that he still doesn’t really know what happens in it, and that Dumbledore’s death left him baffled.
It is the book that explains Snape. We look at what he said, and at what the books tell us about the character he plays.
Posted by Mackenzie on 9 November 2026
Every main actor in the series now has a page, with the character they play and the age the press has reported for them, at the start of filming in July 2025 and at the premiere on Christmas Day. All the ages are together on the cast ages page.
Also new: the scenes the series adds to the book, the houses and uniforms, and the music by Hans Zimmer.
Posted by Will on 9 November 2026
The books never say what colour Ron’s eyes are, but J.K. Rowling has: in 2005 she said they are blue. In Alastair Stout’s character poster they are brown. It is difference number 15 on our list.
9 November 2026
Character posters of Harry, Hermione and Ron, added to the posters page and their character pages. More »
Posted by Will on 8 November 2026
Most of the series was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where a new Hogwarts was built, but the crew also went on location: London Zoo, King’s Cross, the cliffs of Cornwall, and a village in Devon that became Godric’s Hollow for a night.
Our new page lists every location reported so far, each marked as a press or a fan report, and the places from the films that the series has not used.
HBO promised “a faithful adaptation” of the books. So far, before a single episode has aired, we have recorded 15 differences, each checked against the text. The latest:
Books: the books never say, but J.K. Rowling has: “Ron’s eyes are blue” (interview with The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet, 16 July 2005 [source]). Series: Alastair Stout’s eyes are brown in his character poster.
Books: Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel are only mentioned (PS, chs. 13, 17). Series: both appear as characters.
Books: Lucius Malfoy first appears in the second book (CoS, ch. 4). Series: he already appears in season 1.
Season 1, Philosopher’s Stone, has eight episodes. The first premieres on 25 December 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.
| Episode 1 | 25 December 2026 |
| Episode 2 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 3 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 4 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 5 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 6 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 7 | Not yet announced |
| Episode 8 | Not yet announced |
Difference 001 of 15
Books: Snape has “sallow skin” (PS, ch. 7).
Series: he is played by Paapa Essiedu, a Black British actor.
