HBO Releases Surprise ‘Harry Potter’ Clip Of Hogwarts Banquet

HBO has offered up an early taste of the Hogwarts banquet.

In a surprise 90-second clip from the upcoming Harry Potter series (see below), HBO showed Hogwarts students tucking into their start-of-term feast after new arrivals were sorted into their houses.

The scene features Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) asking whether Albus Dumbledore (John Lithgow) is “a bit mad.” Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) replies: “Yep, totally off his rocker.”

Dumbledore then clicks his fingers, and the banquet appears. The headmaster turns to Minerva McGonagall (Janet McTeer) to ask whether she is pleased that Potter is in Gryffindor.

“The cat that got the cream?” he enquires. “Admit it, you’re pleased that he’s in your house.” McGonagall responds: “Well, he is the spit of James [Potter]. I can’t believe it. It’s uncanny.”

“Looks can be deceiving, Minerva. His nature is entirely his own,” Dumbledore adds.

Harry Potter will premiere on December 25 on HBO. Other major cast members include Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger; Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape; Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid; and Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as Harry’s Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley.

Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod write and direct the Harry Potter series, respectively. Gardiner serves as showrunner and executive producer, and Mylod will direct multiple episodes in addition to serving as executive producer.