There are many series premiering in 2026, but few have been as widely discussed as HBO’s Harry Potter. The popularity of the IP instantly gives the series an advantage, but it also comes with several pitfalls. After the release of the first trailer, the series is already facing its biggest challenge. While it doesn’t help that anything related to this franchise is immediately impacted by the discourse surrounding author J. K. Rowling and her personal views, this series, like any reboot, already has an uphill battle to justify its existence.
Many adaptations mishandle their source material, but the Harry Potter films successfully honored the original story while providing all the magic that fans could ask for. The undeniable success of the movies means that HBO’s adaptation must take extra care to differentiate itself. With only a few minutes of footage courtesy of the new trailer, the side-by-side comparisons have begun. It’s especially glaring because another major franchise is releasing a new series this year, demonstrating that there is a simple way to avoid unnecessary comparison. Though they are far from identical in story, Harry Potter should have taken a cue from Stranger Things in how to build on its franchise without repeating itself.
‘Stranger Things’ New Spin-off Establishes a New Look for the Story
Though it hasn’t been around as long as Harry Potter, Stranger Things has a huge following, growing over time into one of the biggest shows of the decade. While the original series recently concluded, Netflix is continuing the story through tie-in novels and graphic novels, as well as a new show. The first spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, will take a different approach to the world. The series will follow the same characters, filling in the gap between seasons and focusing on Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max (played by a new voice cast) as they face new monsters from the Upside Down. Although it will be a major change, the choice to animate this spin-off series instantly sets it apart even as it capitalizes on the nostalgia for the original show.
Tales from ’85 is admittedly a different situation from HBO’s Harry Potter, as it isn’t a reboot, but another story set between Seasons 2 and 3. Yet it faces a similar issue, especially after the mixed reception to the final season of Stranger Things. This spin-off can lean into viewers’ love for the early seasons of the original show, much like HBO’s new Harry Potter series hopes to draw in longtime fans of the films and books, but in Stranger Things’ case, the spin-off will provide something noticeably different. There will be no issue telling these two shows apart thanks to their divergent styles. HBO could have done the same, but instead, the Harry Potter series is being released in the same format as the movies, making comparisons unavoidable.
Season 2 of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Will Follow in ‘The Pitt’s Footsteps in One Key Way
Season 1 of the new series arrives in December.
HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Hasn’t Done Enough to Set Itself Apart From the Movies
The trailer for the new Harry Potter series proves that making more distinct visual changes may have been the better way to go. Had HBO followed Stranger Things‘ example and chosen an animated format, its new adaptation could have instantly differentiated itself in style while opening up story possibilities from the books that are too challenging to render on film. Animation’s most obvious benefit is the advantage of time, since longer gaps between releasing new seasons wouldn’t impact the age of the young actors (which, as seen in Stranger Things, can become distracting for viewers). Additionally, the magic in Harry Potter requires many special effects, and animation wouldn’t force these moments to be more reliant on a small-screen budget.
Admittedly, animation isn’t the only way for Harry Potter to distinguish itself from the films, and it still might succeed at doing so, but visually, it’s too similar to what has come before. The biggest difference is a darker color palette that detracts from the whimsy of the original movies. Ultimately, HBO’s Harry Potter series hopes to benefit from nostalgia, but the trailer is so similar that it’s already made fans want to rewatch what’s been released instead of waiting for the new version.
Harry Potter will premiere December 25 on HBO Max in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2026 – 2026
- Showrunner
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Francisca Gardiner
- Directors
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Mark Mylod
