HBO has announced a standalone behind-the-scenes special, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic, set to air on April 5 ahead of the new Harry Potter series' Christmas Day debut. The special will offer an in-depth look at the making of the first season, featuring interviews with key cast members and the craftspeople bringing J.K. Rowling's books to life.
Narrated by Nick Frost, who plays Rubeus Hagrid, the special includes interviews with John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Professor McGonagall), and Paapa Essiedu (Professor Snape). A trailer released on Thursday shows a set designer beside a mock Hogwarts castle, saying: 'To play in a sandbox this big, it really is incredible. We're adding a level of world-building beyond what the audience is familiar with.'
The series will adapt each of Rowling's seven books into a season, with the first eight-episode season covering Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Young newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton, all aged 11-12, will play Harry, Ron, and Hermione, reportedly earning £500,000 each for the first season.
Last week, HBO released the first trailer, which became the most-watched in HBO history with over 277 million organic views in 48 hours. However, some fans expressed disappointment at the lack of spells and magical creatures shown. The special streams on April 5 at 8 p.m. GMT on HBO Max.
