Harry Potter Series: HBO reveals first look of Dominic McLaughlin as The Boy Who Lived; Fans react

It’s official — Harry Potter is back, and he’s already casting a spell on fans! On Monday, July 14, the makers of the much-anticipated HBO Original Harry Potter series gave fans a magical surprise by unveiling the first look of Dominic McLaughlin as the iconic Boy Who Lived.

Dressed in full Hogwarts costume, the young actor is seen standing confidently in a moody, spellbinding frame, captioned, “First-years, step forward. The HBO Original Harry Potter series is now in production.” The reveal, shared across HBO’s official social media platforms, instantly went viral with fans across the globe chiming in. And unlike the mixed reactions the initial casting received, Dominic’s first look as Harry has garnered overwhelming positivity.

“He looks great as Harry!” one fan wrote, while another added, “He looks EXACTLY like the cover art Harry, he is adorable! Good luck to him and please remember to be kind as he steps into big shoes, he’s got this.” Another simply declared, “Ok. Yup. He was the perfect choice.”

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Dominic McLaughlin was officially introduced in May 2025 as the lead for the rebooted Harry Potter series, along with Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Since then, the cast reveal has sparked global discussions, but the latest image has undoubtedly silenced many sceptics.

The new series promises a faithful, decade-long adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s original seven-book saga, with each season dedicated to one book. In addition to the core trio, the show boasts a power-packed ensemble cast — Oscar nominee John Lithgow will step into the role of Albus Dumbledore, while Paapa Essiedu takes on the darkly complex Severus Snape. Janet McTeer plays Professor McGonagall, Nick Frost becomes Hagrid, Luke Thallon appears as Professor Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.

With filming now underway and no official release date announced yet, fans are eagerly awaiting more glimpses from the wizarding world. One thing’s clear — if Dominic’s first look is any indication, the magic is very much alive.

Also Read: HBO reveals lead cast for Harry Potter Series; new trio announced as Harry, Hermione and Ron