Hbo's harry potter series trailer drops, with fresh twist

Harry Potter fans, rejoice! HBO has released the first trailer for its highly anticipated series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and it offers a glimpse into a new, yet familiar universe of witchcraft and wizardry.

Desaturated hues and high production value

The trailer, which premiered on Wednesday, shows a series that adheres more closely to J.K. Rowling's original title and period setting of the 1990s. This stands in contrast to the movies, which moved with the zeitgeist as they progressed.

The footage features a younger-looking Harry Potter, played by Dominic McLaughlin, getting bullied at school and tormented by his Aunt Petunia, portrayed by Bel Powley. However, soon Harry receives his Hogwarts acceptance letter, meets Hagrid (Nick Frost), and embarks on a journey with new friends Ron (Alastair Stout) and Hermione (Arabella Stanton), the latter being unusually nonverbal in the trailer.

Severus Snape, played by Paapa Essiedu, is also present, but remains quiet throughout the trailer, a choice that may have been made intentionally given the controversy surrounding the casting of some characters.

Overall, the series appears to stay true to Rowling's vision, with vast stone and wood interiors, schoolchildren in long dark robes, close-ups of wands and Sorting Hats, and a voiceover of elders telling Harry he's destined for greatness – all very familiar elements that still manage to look good, even if they may not live up to the majesty of the original movies.

With Warner Bros. set to sell in the near future, there's a clear stake in a big-budget Harry Potter production succeeding. However, given the fatigue towards remakes and reboots, as well as J.K. Rowling's accusations of virulent transphobia, the show faces a steep uphill battle to win over audiences.

For now, the trailer suggests a series that is very much Harry Potter, but with an HBO twist. Whether it will be good enough remains to be seen.