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On X, the Wizarding World Direct account shared photos and a brief video of the show’s version of the Hogwarts Express. Fans would be forgiven if they thought these images were behind-the-scenes looks at one of the movies, since HBO’s take on the classic train bears a very strong resemblance to its big-screen counterpart. Check out the posts in the space below:
Can HBO’s Harry Potter Stand Apart From the Movies?
Now that the first season of HBO’s Harry Potter is in production, numerous set photos have circulated online, and people can’t help but point out the similarities to the films. This critique goes beyond the fan base; Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies, recently criticized the TV show for using the same costume for Hagrid that he used in his films. “Part of me was like: ‘What’s the point?’” Columbus said, sharing that he thought things would be different for HBO’s adaptation. He would likely have similar thoughts about the “new” Hogwarts Express.
In fairness to the TV show, aesthetic details like costumes and the look of the Hogwarts Express were likely always going to be similar to the movies. After all, the series and the films adapt the same exact story, so there’s only so much the showrunners can do with respect to the visuals. Hagrid still needs to look like Hagrid. The Hogwarts Express still needs to look like the Hogwarts Express (and HBO’s iteration does look great). That said, fans might look at this and echo Columbus’ question of “what’s the point?” This isn’t like a new reboot of Batman or Spider-Man, where a filmmaker comes in and uses the source material as a jumping off point for a fresh new take. People are going to see these Harry Potter images and have a feeling of “been there, done that,” raising the question of why the series is being made.
