Harry Potter: Books vs Series

Books vs Series · The unofficial guide to HBO's Harry Potter

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about HBO’s Harry Potter series, with sources.

When does HBO’s Harry Potter series come out?
Season 1 premieres on 25 December 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. See the release date.
Where can I watch it?
On HBO and HBO Max in the US, HBO Max in most other countries, and Crave in Canada. See where to watch.
How many episodes does season 1 have?
Eight [source]. See the episode guide.
How many seasons will there be?
Seven, one for each book. HBO said that “Each season will be authentic to the original books” [source]. See seasons.
Is it a remake of the films?
No. It is a new adaptation of the books, with a new cast. HBO describes it as “a faithful adaptation of the beloved “Harry Potter” book series” [source].
Does it follow the books?
That was the promise. This site records every change: every difference between the books and the series.
Who plays Harry, Hermione and Ron?
Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout. See characters and the full cast.
Who is the showrunner?
Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing several episodes. Jon Brown joins as co-showrunner from season 2. See the creative team.
Is J.K. Rowling involved?
She is an executive producer [source].
Where was it filmed?
At Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, outside London [source].
Who composed the music?
Hans Zimmer, with Bleeding Fingers Music [source].
When does season 2 come out?
There is no date yet. Season 2, Chamber of Secrets, is filming. See season 2.

Premiere

25 Decon HBO Max

Books vs Series

Difference 001 of 15

Snape’s skin colour

Books: Snape has “sallow skin” (PS, ch. 7).

Series: he is played by Paapa Essiedu, a Black British actor.

All 15 differences »

Posters

Harry character poster, HBO's Harry Potter
Harry

All posters »

Latest updates

9 November 2026
New difference: Ron’s eye colour. J.K. Rowling has said Ron’s eyes are blue; in his character poster they are brown. More »

9 November 2026
Character posters of Harry, Hermione and Ron, added to the posters page and their character pages. More »

8 November 2026
New: a page for each episode of season 1, with the chapters it is likely to cover, and an About page. More »

8 November 2026
New pages: characters, seasons, episodes, where to watch, posters, official images, creative team, FAQ and news. More »

All news »

Unofficial fan site. Not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or J.K. Rowling. Images and videos © HBO / Warner Bros. Discovery.
Book references are to the UK editions: PS = Philosopher's Stone, CoS = Chamber of Secrets. · About this site · Page updated