The Harry Potter franchise has been a staple in pop culture for decades now. Generations of children (and adults!) have grown up reading the stories of magic and wonder, or watching as the stories come to life in film. They have played board games set in the wizarding world, visited theme parks, gotten hooked on video games, and received merchandise of all types to fully immerse themselves in Hogwarts and the Harry Potter world.
Coming soon, yet another medium will be entering the fray, for fans both new and old to experience another take on the classic series. Max, the streaming service connected to HBO, will be airing an all-new television series based on the novels, set to premiere at some point in the relatively near future. J.K. Rowling has already confirmed that the script is well done and stays largely loyal to the original. With this knowledge in hand, let's explore the first season.
We know that the series will cover all of the mainline books, one per season. This means season 1 will cover Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This was the book that started it all, the book that established Harry Potter as a book worth turning into a series. It was what allowed the franchise to become the juggernaut it is today. Therefore, Max/HBO needs to absolutely nail it. With more time and flexibility than the film, the producers can highlight moments that had been previously left out.
1. Peeves wreaking havoc in Hogwarts

Peeves, a poltergeist who roams the halls of Hogwarts, did not really play a role in the film adaptations of the novel, thanks to time constraints for the medium. Television does not have that same issue with time, given the episodes have more flexibility, and Peeves is one of the most comical parts of the series, especially in the first book of the series.
Peeves brings complete chaos and mayhem to the halls of the otherwise fairly orderly school, and his presence in the show can be a great way to build in natural humor.
2. Hermione Granger shows off her extreme intelligence

Hermione has always been the brains of the operation in her friend group, and that shows up time and time again throughout the series. She had one moment in the Sorcerer's Stone, though, that was absolutely essential to the trio's success, and it was not represented in the film adaptations.
The friends stumbled upon a potions riddle that needed to be solved to discover the Sorcerer's Stone, and it was none other than Hermione who cracked the code. Give the girl her moment in the sun!
3. Neville Longbottom's first act of bravery

Neville gets a rep for being incredibly goofy, clumsy, easy to target, and often a bit overly nervous. While all these things are true throughout the entirety of the series, there is something else that can describe him as well: bravery. There are many times that Neville shows his bravery, including from the start in The Sorcerer's Stone.
At Harry's Quidditch game, Neville stood up for the first time to Malfoy and his henchmen Crabbe and Goyle, ending up knocked out cold. This moment was his first act of bravery, but certainly not the last.
The Harry Potter series is currently in production and will be released on Max sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. Stay tuned for more news about the upcoming series.