As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, HBO has revealed the first poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, confirming that the show's Christmas launch date is indeed December 25.
Featuring a close-up shot of Dominic McLaughlin's Boy Wizard, the poster highlights the fact that his lightning-shaped scar is far more realistic than the one in the movies and is a lot more like an old wound, as a result. However, that's not the biggest talking point here.
Instead, it's our first glimpse at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the reflection of Harry's glasses. The castle design is definitely different, even if the overall design doesn't veer too far from the Harry Potter movies (with both adaptations based on the same books, there's obviously going to be some overlap).
The castle does look a little less stylised than its predecessor and more in line with what you'd expect to see in the highlands of Scotland...if Hogwarts were visible to Muggles, of course.
With less than two months until Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO, we're bound to see much more from the series in the coming weeks. The only grumble about the poster on social media is that Harry's eyes are blue instead of green, which was famously the case on the page. Daniel Radcliffe also had blue eyes, though, so McLaughlin is in good company.
Production is already underway on Season 2, an adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. HBO has cast Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart, Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley, Lenny Rush as Dobby, Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley, Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle, and Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey for that second batch of episodes.
Take a closer look at this new poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone below.
"There is nothing special about Harry Potter - at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says," reads the synopsis. "On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past."
The main cast of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
Rounding out the supporting cast are Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley, Leigh Gill as Griphook, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.
The series, based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, is written and executive-produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive-produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max on December 25.