The first trailer for the brand new Harry Potter series is here and fans are all asking the same question — where is the magic?
Just one day after HBO shared the first official look at Dominic McLaughlin as the titular character, the series’ first trailer showed footage of McLaughlin and plenty of his star-studded castmates in the ambitious series, which is set to adapt each of J.K. Rowling’s seven iconic books into seven seasons of television.
The two-minute trailer revealed a glimpse at the highly anticipated portrayals of iconic characters like John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Professor Severus Snape. But while some fans were impressed with the accuracy of the details, like the Hogwarts Castle and the costume choices, others were disappointed by the lack of spells and magical creatures that the first footage showed.
“While this is great and emotional, I’d like to ask — where is the magic in this trailer?” one underwhelmed fan commented on Instagram. “The only tiny hint of magic I noticed was Snape using the Lumos spell. Seriously tho? This series is supposed to introduce the magical world of Harry Potter to a younger generation and this trailer almost had no magic in it at all…”
Another complained, “No! The magic is not there. The movies and the cast we already had in the past were the magic.” One fan added: “Ngl but this trailer didn’t felt ‘magical’, it felt more realistic down to earth stuff. Where’s all the magic? Btw can’t wait to watch it.”
Yet another fan added, “I’m trying my best to be open minded and I will watch it but where is the magic? this is not Harry Potter.”
The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will premiere on HBO’s streaming platform later this year at Christmas, which is earlier than fans originally expected. Season one will contain eight episodes.
A logline reads: “There is nothing special about Harry Potter — at least that’s what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past.”
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The show has already garnered some controversy for involving Rowling, who is outspoken about her transphobic views, as an executive producer on the series. Most recently, actor Paapa Essiedu came forward to address racist threats that he has received since he was cast in the role of Snape.
