MOVIE NEWS – We already have the first image from the new Harry Potter HBO series, although most fans still remember Daniel Radcliffe. Dominic McLaughlin, set to play the Boy Who Lived in HBO’s production, faces a huge challenge.

The first official photo of Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter has arrived. Just days ago, HBO and Warner Bros. made their final call, casting him as the iconic hero of J.K. Rowling’s saga; they also confirmed Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Back then, the two were introduced in a joint, costume-free photo—now we finally see McLaughlin in full Hogwarts robes and those legendary round glasses.

As seen on the cover of this article, The Hollywood Handle revealed the first image of McLaughlin as Harry Potter. Beyond the young actor stepping into one of pop culture’s most recognizable roles, it’s worth noting HBO has already begun production on the series. There’s still plenty of work left, and this image doesn’t mean the show will air anytime soon, but it marks a significant step forward for the project.

First look at Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter in the ‘HARRY POTTER’ HBO series.

Now in production. pic.twitter.com/8OdqgpsWOO

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) July 14, 2025

Fans Are Split – Everyone Is Comparing to the First Harry Potter

The photo spread rapidly on social media, with “Dominic McLaughlin” trending on X in no time. Fans have had very mixed reactions to the first shot from the HBO series. Some are rooting for the actor but worry about the incoming hate wave; others say outright they have no intention of watching the show, whenever it finally premieres (no date yet).

Many Harry Potter fans see the HBO project as unnecessary. While the series will address storylines not covered in the Warner Bros. movies, most believe the film saga still holds up perfectly well today. Users like turquoisepogos responded to McLaughlin’s image with a screenshot of Daniel Radcliffe and the comment: “the bar is set very high”. You’ll also find reactions like “it will never be the same” (EBO) and GIFs of the original actor (Kim_Tink). In any case, we’ll keep following the series’ progress and the professionals involved.

Source: 3djuegos