Exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs have emerged, offering a tantalising glimpse into the construction of iconic Harry Potter locations for the highly anticipated television adaptation. The series, scheduled to premiere in 2027, features Dominic McLaughlin in the legendary lead role of the boy wizard, Harry Potter.
Iconic Sets Taking Shape
The newly released images showcase several significant constructions that appear to be faithful recreations of beloved settings from J.K. Rowling's wizarding world. One prominent structure seems to be Professor Pomona Sprout's greenhouse, the botanical classroom where she instructs Hogwarts students in the magical art of Herbology.
This greenhouse plays a particularly crucial narrative role in the second instalment, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as it introduces the pivotal Mandrake plants essential to the plot's resolution. Another photograph reveals what looks to be the expansive Hogwarts school courtyard, hinting at the grand scale of the production.
The Whomping Willow's Dramatic Presence
Perhaps most striking among the set pictures is the construction of the formidable Whomping Willow, the violent, sentient tree located on the Hogwarts grounds. This magical tree first menaces Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in Chamber of Secrets when they crash a flying Ford Anglia into its aggressive branches. The Whomping Willow's surprising origins and deeper significance are later fully revealed in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Additionally, the photos feature a small, rustic building that could potentially be either Hagrid's Hut, the gamekeeper's humble home, or The Burrow, the charmingly chaotic residence of the Weasley family.
A Fresh Cast Embarks on the Magical Journey
Dominic McLaughlin, selected from an astounding pool of over 32,000 auditioning hopefuls, steps into the iconic role originally made famous by Daniel Radcliffe. He leads a new generation of actors, including Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.
The principal cast boasts considerable star power, with Nick Frost, renowned for his roles in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, taking on the gentle giant Rubeus Hagrid. American acting veteran John Lithgow portrays the wise Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, alongside Janet McTeer as the stern Professor Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as the complex Potions Master, Severus Snape.
Filming Progress and Public Sightings
Production for the series commenced last year, with numerous cast members already spotted fully in character on various locations. In August 2025, Dominic McLaughlin and Nick Frost were photographed in costume as Harry and Hagrid for the first time during London filming, causing significant public excitement.
Members of the public documented the shoot on social media platforms like TikTok. One viral clip showed Nick Frost's stunt double rehearsing a scene outside a Sainsbury's Local supermarket, temporarily bringing capital traffic to a standstill. Another sighting captured the cast filming outside a pub, believed to be representing the Leaky Cauldron, the magical entrance to Diagon Alley.
Fans have also witnessed John Lithgow's remarkable transformation into Albus Dumbledore. The actor was seen on a sandy beach in Cornwall, worlds away from Hogwarts, wearing the professor's signature long white hair, beard, majestic wizarding robes, and spectacles. His detailed costume included a puff-sleeved blue shirt, a matching waistcoat with a gold pocket watch, and velvet blue trousers. Lithgow was filmed performing intense scenes, walking through shallow ocean water and clutching his waist in apparent pain.
Further sightings include new Ron Weasley actor Alastair Stout filming scenes with the rest of the Weasley family at the iconic King's Cross Station, home to the secret Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. HBO has described the upcoming show as a 'faithful adaptation' of J.K. Rowling's beloved novel series, promising to bring the Wizarding World to life once again for a new generation of viewers when it launches in 2027.
