Wizarding World fans are counting down the days until Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO this Christmas. While the series won't be released yearly, the plan is for new seasons—each adapting one of J.K. Rowling's books—to drop at least every 18 months or so.
Work is already underway on Season 2, aka Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The cast has been taking shape in recent months, and a first look has been revealed during an official Warner Bros. event in Brazil.
This promotional poster doesn't give us much to go on, but it does feature a first look at the Hogwarts Express returning to the school ahead of a new year for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Is that glimmer of blue in the train's smoke the flying Ford Anglia?
It's going to be a while before we get any more than this from Season 2, though set photos once again seem likely. HBO has managed to keep the Hogwarts grounds under wraps for the most part, but we have seen many of The Philosopher's Stone's London-set scenes.
In The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and a rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car.
Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors—and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone... Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
The main cast of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone includes Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy.
New additions to The Chamber of Secrets include Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart, Lenny Rush as Dobby, Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle, Bonnie Hill as Ginny Weasley (who takes over the role from Gracie Cochrane), Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley, Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey, and Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone premieres on HBO Max this Christmas.