«Harry Potter» fans have finally got their first full-length look at HBO’s new series.

Viewers will return to Hogwarts on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026. The first season will focus on the events of the novel «Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone» and will consist of eight episodes.

The trailer features plenty of familiar moments from the first book, including the Sorting Ceremony, where the Sorting Hat assigns students to their houses, festive feasts for the first-year students, their first broomstick flights, Quidditch matches and more.

This time, the story of the young wizard will be brought to life by an entirely new cast. The title role will be played by Dominic McLaughlin, who was chosen from more than 30,000 applicants. Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley, while Arabella Stanton will take on the role of Hermione Granger.

One of the key features of the new project is expected to be its close adherence to the original books. HBO plans to dedicate each season to a separate novel.

Interestingly, the series is already being described as one of the most expensive television productions in history. The budget for the first season is estimated at around $300 million.

Meanwhile, filming on the second season is expected to begin in the coming weeks. It will be based on the novel «Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets».

Photo: Instagram @hphboupdates

Hip-hop icon Jay-Z is set to become the subject of a new documentary project from HBO. The streaming platform has announced a series titled «Jay-Z in 8», which will consist of eight episodes and is scheduled to premiere this fall.

The creators have already unveiled the first teaser for the upcoming series. In the short video, Jay-Z reflects on how personal experiences have shaped his creative work.

The project is built around a series of candid conversations between the musician and renowned producer Rick Rubin. Throughout the series, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, will share personal stories, discuss his artistic journey, reveal the origins of his most iconic songs, and speak about the challenges and defining moments that shaped him as an artist.

Rick Rubin will serve not only as the rapper’s interviewer but also as the director of the project. According to Variety, the series is executive produced by Jay-Z, Rick Rubin, and British actor and Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya.

The release of «Jay-Z in 8» coincides with the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut album «Reasonable Doubt». To mark the occasion, the artist has also announced a series of stadium concerts in various countries around the world.

Photo: HBO Max, GQ

The American film studio Warner Bros. has started working on a motion picture based on George R.R. Martin’s renowned fantasy series, Game of Thrones. Currently, the project is in the early stages of development and has neither a director, screenwriters, nor a confirmed cast. However, the company aims to release the upcoming film in theaters.

Initially, the original showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss had planned to release three feature-length films instead of the final season in 2019, with the support of author George R.R. Martin. However, HBO opposed this idea, as it sought to preserve the Game of Thrones status as a series. With changes in leadership, however, the franchise now has a chance at a film adaptation. Additionally, studios today often create films and series within a shared universe.

It is worth noting that in 2022, the successful prequel series House of the Dragon was launched, and another prequel titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is planned for release next year. Meanwhile, ideas for storylines that would take place after the events of the original series are also under consideration.