There’re are plenty of reasons to feel unsure about the Harry Potter TV show, but HBO’s new behind-the-scenes episode gives us reason to be cautiously optimistic. Recently, the first official trailer for the remake series dropped, and it naturally inspired a lot of discussion and debate. While certain elements in the two-minute clip were spectacular, several differences from the Harry Potter movies left dedicated fans feeling uncomfortable. It was immediately clear that there would be pros and cons to the Harry Potter remake, though the jury was still out regarding the balance between them.
HBO didn’t make us wait long before it gave us another look at its Harry Potter TV show. Less than two weeks after the trailer dropped, a behind-the-scenes episode titled Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic was released on HBO Max. This half-hour documentary dives into the steps taken to bring the Harry Potter show to life, including casting, set building, costume design, special effects, and more. While we can’t know whether this remake series will surpass our expectations until it premieres on Christmas Day, 2026, this early episode is certainly encouraging.
Harry Potter’s Behind-The-Scenes Episode Unveils A Truly Breathtaking Wizarding World
Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic didn’t show us more Harry Potter footage, but it provided an artful look at the immersive sets of the Wizarding world. There are many similarities here to the Harry Potter movies. Many of the familiar locations within Hogwarts Castle, the Hogwarts Express, No. 4 Privet Drive, and more look nearly just as they did in the original films. However, there’s simply more. These are massive sets that go far deeper than the surface-level illusions we are used to. It’s as if HBO truly placed its cast within the real Wizarding world of Harry Potter.
Of course, it takes more than great sets to bring a fantasy world to life. HBO’s Harry Potter special provides an in-depth look at the costumes that will be worn throughout the series. The Muggle clothing is appropriately ’90s-based, while Wizarding clothing is authentically made of natural materials. They’re eclectic and whimsical—just as beautifully weird as Wizarding attire should be.
Finally, and perhaps the most striking, is the marvelous technology being used in the Harry Potter TV show to bring magical creatures to life. Throughout the Harry Potter franchise, we’ve seen just about every way the industry can bring mythical animals and beasts to the screen. HBO’s TV show is bound to use its fair share of CGI, but Finding Harry gave us a look at the advanced animatronics being utilized. Even without further filming magic, these creatures look real. Their movement and interactivity are seamless, and the fact that they are constructed using practical means only makes them more magical.
Many Of The Creatives Behind HBO’s Harry Potter Have Connections To The Film Franchise
Exclusive · Personality Quiz
THE SORTING HAT — WHICH HARRY POTTER HOUSE WOULD YOU BE IN?
The Sorting Hat Sees All
Every witch and wizard who passes through the Great Hall is sorted by the qualities they hold most dear. Ten questions stand between you and your true house. Answer honestly — the Hat can tell when you’re lying.
🦁Gryffindor
🐍Slytherin
🦅Ravenclaw
🦡Hufflepuff
PLACE THE HAT ON YOUR HEAD →
01
You hear a strange noise coming from a forbidden corridor after curfew. What do you do?What calls to you in the dark?
AGrab your wand and investigate immediately. Someone could be in trouble.
BInvestigate quietly and alone. Knowledge of what’s hidden there could be very useful.
CResearch the corridor first. There’s probably a reason it’s forbidden, and you want to know what.
DTell a trusted friend and go together. Safety in numbers, and it’s no fun alone.
NEXT →
02
A professor offers you a rare opportunity, but accepting it means letting down a friend. What do you do?Ambition vs. loyalty — a timeless test.
ATurn it down. Your friends come first, always.
BTake it. Your friend would do the same, and opportunities like this don’t come twice.
CFind a creative solution that lets you do both. There’s always another way if you think hard enough.
DTalk to your friend honestly and figure it out together. Communication solves most things.
NEXT →
03
You find an ancient spellbook with powerful magic — some of it dangerous. How do you handle it?Power, wisdom, caution, or principle?
ATurn it in to a professor. Dangerous magic shouldn’t be floating around.
BKeep it hidden and study the useful parts. Knowledge is power, and this is a rare find.
CRead every page carefully. Understanding dangerous magic is the best defense against it.
DShare it with friends you trust. Something this important shouldn’t be one person’s secret.
NEXT →
04
A classmate is being bullied by someone more powerful. You barely know the victim. What do you do?What moves you to act?
AStep in immediately, even if it means making an enemy. It’s the right thing to do.
BFind a way to undermine the bully without putting yourself at risk. Be strategic.
CReport it to a professor. The system exists for a reason — use it.
DBefriend the victim afterwards. What they need most right now is someone in their corner.
NEXT →
05
Which quality do you most want to be known for?What you value most reveals your deepest nature.
ABravery. When things go wrong, I want to be the person who stands up.
BResourcefulness. I want to be the person who always finds a way.
CWisdom. I want to be the person who truly understands.
DKindness. I want to be the person people trust completely.
NEXT →
06
Your team is losing badly in a high-stakes competition. What’s your move?Pressure reveals character.
ARally everyone with a bold speech and lead by example. Momentum is everything.
BExploit the other team’s weakness. There’s always a gap if you’re watching closely enough.
CPause and rethink the strategy entirely. Doing the same thing harder won’t work — you need a new plan.
DFocus on keeping morale up. A team that trusts each other can come back from anything.
NEXT →
07
You catch a friend cheating on an important exam. What do you do?Rules, relationships, and right and wrong.
AConfront them directly. If they’re your real friend, they can handle the truth.
BSay nothing. It’s their risk to take, and reporting them gains you nothing.
CStruggle with it, but ultimately the integrity of the exam matters. You report it anonymously.
DTalk to them privately and offer to help them study instead. They clearly need support.
NEXT →
08
What do you fear most?Your deepest fear says everything about your deepest values.
ABeing a coward when it matters. Failing to act when someone needs me.
BBeing ordinary. Living a life where I never reached my full potential.
CBeing ignorant. Making decisions based on incomplete understanding.
DBeing alone. Losing the people who matter most to me.
NEXT →
09
Centuries from now, how would you want to be remembered at Hogwarts?The portrait on the wall — what does it say?
AAs someone who fought for what was right, no matter the personal cost.
BAs someone who achieved greatness and left a lasting mark on the wizarding world.
CAs someone who discovered something extraordinary — a truth no one else could see.
DAs someone who was truly good — a person who made others’ lives better just by being there.
NEXT →
10
The Sorting Hat whispers: “I see everything you are and everything you could become. Tell me — what matters to you above all else?”The final question. Answer from your soul.
AThe courage to do what’s right, even when I’m terrified. I’d rather be brave for one moment than safe for a lifetime.
BThe drive to become who I’m meant to be. I won’t settle, and I won’t apologize for wanting more.
CThe pursuit of understanding. The truth is more beautiful and more important than comfort.
DThe people I love and the bonds I’ve built. Everything else is just noise without the people beside you.
THE HAT HAS DECIDED →
THE SORTING HAT HAS SPOKEN
YOU BELONG IN…
🦁
“Where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.”
You lead with your heart and your gut. When something is wrong, you can’t just stand there — you have to act, even when the odds are terrible and the smart move is to walk away. You’re the person people look to in a crisis, not because you’re fearless, but because you move forward when you’re afraid. Your moral compass is loud, your loyalty is fierce, and your courage can be reckless — but the world needs people like you.
Values: Courage, chivalry, determination, standing up for what’s right
Watch out for: Recklessness, a hero complex, and leaping before you look
Famous Gryffindors: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall
🐍
“Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.”
You have a vision for your life, and you’re not going to let politeness or convention stand in the way. You’re strategic, perceptive, and deeply ambitious — not necessarily for power itself, but for the freedom and influence that come with being exceptional. You read rooms, you play the long game, and you don’t waste energy on fights you can’t win. People underestimate your depth at their own risk.
Values: Ambition, resourcefulness, determination, self-preservation
Watch out for: Isolation, ruthlessness, and mistaking cunning for wisdom
Famous Slytherins: Severus Snape, Merlin, Regulus Black, Horace Slughorn
🦅
“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.”
Your mind is your greatest asset, and you know it. You’re drawn to ideas, puzzles, and the kind of deep understanding that most people don’t have the patience for. You question everything — not to be difficult, but because accepting easy answers feels dishonest. You value originality, creativity, and intellectual independence. The library isn’t just a building to you — it’s a sanctuary.
Values: Wisdom, creativity, learning, intellectual curiosity
Watch out for: Overthinking, detachment, and valuing being right over being kind
Famous Ravenclaws: Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Garrick Ollivander, Cho Chang
🦡
“Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil.”
You are the heart of every group you belong to. You don’t need to be the hero of the story — you need the people in the story to be okay. Your loyalty isn’t performative; it’s bone-deep. You show up, you do the work, and you treat people with a decency that the wizarding world desperately needs more of. You’re not soft — you’re strong in the way that actually holds everything together.
Values: Loyalty, patience, fairness, hard work, kindness
Watch out for: Being taken for granted, avoiding conflict, and forgetting your own needs
Famous Hufflepuffs: Newt Scamander, Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Pomona Sprout
↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ
HBO’s behind-the-scenes episode leaves little doubt that this version of the Harry Potter universe will look spectacular, and it does so not just by showing us the sets but also by introducing us to the creatives behind the whole thing. These are people with a genuine passion for Harry Potter. We see in Finding Harry that they are eager not just to make something amazing, but to do the franchise as a whole justice. They are true Harry Potter fans with an organic understanding of what other fans are looking for.
Throughout the documentary, we met a variety of creatives associated with the Harry Potter franchise who either worked on the movies themselves or are relatives of people who did. The show’s property master, Jamie Wilkinson, is the son of Barry Wilkinson, prop master for all eight Harry Potter films. Costume milliner Sophie Lambe carries on her family’s legacy within the Harry Potter franchise. Will Stickley, the Harry Potter TV show’s construction manager, met his wife on the set of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and is now working alongside their son on the new series.
The Harry Potter Show’s Biggest Problems Are Unlikely To Hinder Its Success
Dumbledore walking around Hogwarts in the HBO Harry Potter series
It can’t be denied that there is an extensive list of cons associated with the Harry Potter TV show. HBO’s trailer gave us some things to look forward to, but it also reinforced some of the public’s biggest complaints about casting and stylization. Color grading seems to be a significant issue, since the trailer lacked the vibrancy of the original Harry Potter films. It’s also going to be an uncanny-valley-like challenge to see new actors within the roles we associate with the original cast. This is only the beginning, since the Harry Potter franchise continues to be steeped in wider controversies.
Despite all of this, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic foreshadows success. There are bound to be plenty of people who can’t overlook the Harry Potter TV show’s cons, but there are more than enough pros to guarantee that audiences of all ages will be charmed by this upcoming project. From an immersive and stunning world to a legacy crew of creative minds eternally rooted in a love for Harry Potter, this series is shaping up to be an absolute phenomenon.
Release Date
2026 – 2026
Showrunner
Francisca Gardiner
Directors
Mark Mylod
Dominic McLaughlin
Harry Potter
Janet McTeer
Minerva McGonagall
