HBO releases 90-second Harry Potter series clip showing the Hogwarts welcome feast

The banquet clip

HBO has released a clip of roughly 90 seconds from its Harry Potter series, showing the first welcome banquet at Hogwarts right after the students are sorted into the four houses. According to La Razon, it was shown during the Kids' Choice Awards 2026 on Saturday, 14 November, and HBO Max also posted it on its social networks that day. A version also appeared on YouTube on Sunday, 15 November.

Students chant the name of Dumbledore while striking the tables with their hands, a detail that appears neither in J.K. Rowling's novel nor in the 2001 film. Harry asks Ron whether Dumbledore is a bit mad, and Ron replies that he is completely off his rocker. Dumbledore then snaps his fingers and food appears on the tables, while Harry, played by Dominic McLaughlin, eats a chicken drumstick before the plates vanish and puddings and cakes take their place.

A scene the books do not contain

The clip's most notable addition is a conversation between Dumbledore, played by John Lithgow, and Professor Minerva McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer. The two discuss Harry's placement in Gryffindor, the house McGonagall leads. McGonagall remarks that Harry is the spit of James Potter, and Dumbledore answers that looks can be deceiving. The exchange shows events that Harry does not witness directly, which a television series can do more freely than a film.

In the novel, Harry puts the question about Dumbledore to Percy Weasley, Ron's older brother, according to La Razon. The series instead gives that line to Ron, which is one of several changes to the familiar banquet scene.

Series background and cast

Filming began in summer 2025 on a plan to adapt all seven Rowling novels across seven seasons, a development expected to run for roughly a decade. The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has eight episodes. Dominic McLaughlin plays Harry, Alastair Stout plays Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton plays Hermione Granger, with John Lithgow as Dumbledore. According to BFMTV, the season was shot at the Warner Bros. studios in Leavesden, where the films were also made, and the series was created by Francesca Gardiner and Jon Brown, with Hans Zimmer composing the music.

HBO has already renewed the series for a second season, and filming for that season has started. Casting announced for it includes Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart, Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley and Lenny Rush as Dobby, along with Billy Barratt as the young Tom Riddle, Molly Hewitt-Richards as Myrtle and Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey. BFMTV reports that the second season will be based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Release timing

HBO Max released a new trailer on 2 September, according to BFMTV, about three months before the premiere. The banquet clip followed on Saturday, 14 November, a little more than a month before the first season arrives. The first season premieres on 25 December 2026 on HBO Max.