Every ‘Harry Potter’ Character in the HBO Trailer Compared Against Their Original Movie Descriptions & Movie Version

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The first trailer for the new Harry Potter series on HBO Max is finally here! While many fans are excited to return to the magical world, others have mixed feelings due to concerns about the author, J.K. Rowling, and her views. Regardless of those feelings, the trailer offers a compelling first glimpse at this reimagined version of the beloved story.

The first season, appropriately named Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, feels quite different in tone from the original movie. Even director Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, has complimented the series’ approach. He told MovieWeb that the show’s longer runtime—about 10 hours for the entire book—allowed them to include more of the source material. “I had to cut a lot of my favorite things because we didn’t have enough time,” Columbus explained. The first glimpse of Season 1, lasting just over two minutes, suggests a darker, more faithful adaptation of the book—and the later movies—bringing out deeper, more nuanced sides of the characters. Let’s take a closer look.

Petunia Dursley

It’s still unclear if the first season of the Harry Potter TV series, or the series as a whole, will closely follow the books. However, the trailer suggests the adaptation won’t shy away from the darker themes and moments found in the original stories. A prime example of this is the portrayal of Petunia Dursley.

The trailer shows this new version of Aunt Petunia as significantly more cruel than previous portrayals, especially compared to Fiona Shaw’s more humorous and occasionally understanding take on the character. Bel Powley’s Petunia seems deliberately malicious, highlighted by scenes of her roughly cutting young Harry’s hair and menacingly holding the scissors towards his face while telling him he’s unremarkable. Unlike the awkward, fussy, and simply unpleasant Petunia from the books and earlier films, this version appears much more forceful and intimidating.

Dudley Dursley

While Vernon Dursley isn’t visible in the first trailer for the new Harry Potter series on HBO, their son, Dudley (played by Amos Kitson), does make a brief appearance. We see Harry running from bullies at his old school, only to be cornered by Dudley’s friends while Dudley himself gives Harry a menacing glare. This version of Dudley seems less clumsy than the one portrayed by Harry Melling in the first film, and possibly less spoiled than the character in the books – at least, based on this glimpse. However, he still appears just as cold and calculating. It’s ironic, considering Harry is the one who can actually understand and speak to snakes.

Mr. Ollivander

Mr. Ollivander has significantly more lines in the teaser trailer than other characters, and he feels very much like the Ollivander we know and love from the books and films. His delivery of the famous line, “Mr. Potter, I think we can expect great things from you,” closely matches both how we’ve imagined it and how John Hurt originally said it in the first Harry Potter movie. The main difference is in appearance: while the original actor, John Hurt, portrayed a somewhat disheveled Ollivander, Anton Lesser’s version is noticeably more polished, perhaps even sporting glasses from Warby Parker.

Rubeus Hagrid

Nick Frost seems to be carrying on the spirit of Robbie Coltrane’s beloved Hagrid from the Harry Potter films. While Frost shares Coltrane’s gentle nature, he’s also bringing his own unique qualities to the role. Based on the trailer, this Hagrid appears more reserved and thoughtful, with a deeper emotional range than we’ve seen before in the books or movies. It’s still early days, but so far, this new take on the character is very promising.

Professor Minerva McGonagall

As a fan, I was so excited to see Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall in the HBO trailer! She really captures the same stern but caring vibe that Dame Maggie Smith perfected – even down to the little pursed lips! But it’s also clear McTeer isn’t trying to be Maggie Smith. She’s making the role her own, and she admitted it’s a bit daunting stepping into such iconic shoes. She said it’s ‘glorious’ but ‘scary’ taking over from someone so amazing, but she’s feeling good about it now, and honestly, that’s reassuring to see!

Draco Malfoy

Though Draco Malfoy (Lox Pratt) appears briefly, he immediately captures the character’s signature sneering attitude, living up to both Tom Felton’s iconic portrayal and the book’s description. With his carefully styled blonde hair and naturally snobbish demeanor, it’s fitting that he’s also been cast as the manipulative and controlling Jack in the BBC’s adaptation of Lord of the Flies. While Pratt is undoubtedly different from the characters he plays, he clearly has the talent to convincingly portray a villain.

Albus Dumbledore

Okay, so I just saw the first teaser trailer for the new Harry Potter movie, and it’s a little strange that John Lithgow as Dumbledore is only in it for a split second! I’m guessing they’re building mystery, and not highlighting the fact that he was initially hesitant about taking the role. Honestly, though, from that quick glimpse, Lithgow’s Dumbledore seems like he’ll be a bit different from Richard Harris’s version. Harris always had that warm, knowing twinkle, and Lithgow seems to be going for something a little different. One thing’s for sure: the costume designers are definitely putting their own spin on Dumbledore’s iconic style!

Severus Snape

Paapa Essiedu’s portrayal of Severus Snape has sparked online discussion, but it’s important to remember that his performance doesn’t diminish Alan Rickman’s iconic and masterful take on the character. Furthermore, Essiedu, who is Black, should never have been subjected to death threats simply for being cast in the role. Even from the brief glimpse we get in the trailer, it’s apparent that Essiedu will capture the character’s dry wit and somewhat adversarial nature – as seen in both the books and films – and, honestly, his hair looks fantastic; those locs are a definite improvement.

Ron Weasley

The HBO series presents a Ron Weasley (played by Alastair Stout) who is quite different from the book’s awkward and insecure character, or even Rupert Grint’s somewhat clumsy portrayal. This Ron comes across as a cheerful, playful friend, always up for an adventure. While it might not fully capture the book’s depiction – we mostly see him having fun, like throwing snowballs or playfully teasing his friends – this lighter version of Ron could be a welcome addition to a show that appears to be more serious and realistic than previous adaptations.

Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger, portrayed by Arabella Stanton, offers a fresh take on the iconic character. Unlike Emma Watson’s well-known portrayal, which often emphasized Hermione’s eagerness to please and precise pronunciation, Stanton’s version shows a different side. This approach seems designed to distinguish her performance, and it’s refreshing to see Hermione already fully integrated into the core group of friends, rather than gradually becoming a part of it as she did in the first book, The Sorcerer’s Stone.

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2026-03-26 23:12