‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Offers First Look at New Harry Potter

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The production for a new TV version based on the beloved Harry Potter book series has officially commenced, with HBO making the announcement today and sharing the first snapshot from the set featuring actor Dominic McLaughlin stepping into the role of the titular character Harry Potter.

As a dedicated Harry Potter fan, I must say that McLaughlin’s costume bears a striking resemblance to the one worn by Daniel Radcliffe in the iconic 2001 movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Notably, just like the original character, McLaughlin also sports the distinctive forehead scar.

Here’s the full image that HBO released.

In addition to their earlier announcements, HBO has unveiled further casting choices for the series. Rory Wilmot will portray Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson will take on Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey is set to play Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser will embody Garrick Ollivander. Previously, Arabella Stanton was introduced as the new Hermione Granger, while Alastair Stout was cast as the new Ron Weasley. The ensemble also includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape, and Nick Frost as Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid.

As a dedicated movie buff and an ardent fan of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, I’m thrilled to share that HBO is set to deliver a faithful adaptation of the cherished Harry Potter books. Each season promises to introduce the magical world of Harry Potter to both new and returning audiences, with exclusive streaming on HBO Max in markets such as Germany, Italy, and the UK, along with other upcoming locations. Notably, the original classic films will continue to be accessible for viewers worldwide.

In the year 2027, the Harry Potter TV series is set to make its debut on both HBO and HBO Max (provided HBO Max retains its current name).

The Best Food and Drink at Epic Universe

Burning Cheddar Bites

Location: The Burning Blade Tavern in the Dark Universe
Official Description: “Crunchy fried jalapeño pimento cheddar balls with sriracha ranch dipping sauce.”
Personal Impression: Although they don’t seem particularly appealing, these snacks may have been the most scrumptious savory dishes I tasted at Epic Universe. They not only taste great but also boast creative theming. They are served at the Burning Blade Tavern, a bar and restaurant reminiscent of the windmill from the climax of the 1931 movie Frankenstein. (You may have come across it catching fire on social media.)
Within the Burning Blade Tavern’s lore, the establishment is extremely flammable due to its abundance of coal. Thus, these cheesy bites resemble coal nuggets. The charred exterior offers a crispy texture, while the jalapeño pimento interior is spicy and gooey. The sriracha ranch sauce adds an extra kick, which enhances the theming. Contrary to Frankenstein’s fire-related fears, in this case, fire proves to be delightful. This food perfectly embodies the excessively dramatic culinary side of movie-inspired creations.

Butterbeer Crepe

Location: You can find this at Café L’air De La Sirène, nestled within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Official Description: “Indulge in a scrumptious crepe filled with a luscious shortbread cookie butter Bavarian cream, Butterbeer™ cream and adorned with fresh strawberries, a drizzle of Butterbeer™ syrup and a Butterbeer™ shortbread cookie.”
My Impressions: Over the years, I’ve made it no secret that butterbeer is my favorite aspect of the entire Harry Potter universe. The original concoction is hard to resist (and can be found at Epic Universe too), and I find myself enjoying every new take Universal creates – we now have hot butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, butterbeer fudge, and a variety of butterbeer-flavored treats. The delectable Butterbeer crepe offered at the French bistro in Epic Universe is another triumph; it’s light, thin, and has cream that strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and richness. I must admit, though, that I’m curious as to why Universal designed an area resembling 1920s Paris – it doesn’t quite match the visual aesthetic of traditional Harry Potter locations like Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. However, the French theme led to this crepe, so I have no complaints.

Crimson Glazed Pork

Location: The Stakehouse at Dark Universe

Description: “Char siu-style roasted pork belly with crimson glaze, served with a bloody roast pork dipping sauce, charred green onion mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots, acorn squash, and crispy maitake mushrooms.”

Thoughts: The Stakehouse is said to be owned by vampires and their familiars, which the kitchen plays up with gory presentations and dishes that look like they’re covered in blood. However, the “crimson glaze” on the pork is actually just char siu sauce, making it seem like something else entirely. The blackened vegetables add to the spooky atmosphere of the dish. Despite the horror-themed presentation, the food was delicious and not at all tasteless as one might expect. The pork was well-cooked (not actually bloody) with a pleasant sweetness from the char siu sauce, and no garlic whatsoever, as vampires wouldn’t serve that in their restaurant!

DK Crush Float

Location of Sale: The Bubbly Barrel can be found in Super Nintendo Land

Official Label: “Banana Pineapple Soft Serve Float”

My Impression: This dessert seems tailor-made for Donkey Kong: A towering scoop of banana and pineapple ice cream, adorned with chocolate chunks and caramel popcorn, perched atop waffle cone fragments floating above a moat of pineapple soda.

I’m not particularly fond of pineapple soda, but the rest of this delightful concoction is quite enticing, making it an excellent choice for a sweltering Florida afternoon. (It would be even more appealing if they replaced the soda with fresh pineapple juice.)

Dragon Fire Chicken Spire

In a fictional setting from How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, a food item is offered at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. This dish is described as a “Creamy macaroni and cheese with Nashville-style pulled chicken, hot honey, Calabrian peppers, chimichurri, and crispy onions served in a crunchy cone.” The author seems to be intrigued by this food item, especially the one filled with pulled chicken and chimichurri. However, they suggest that adding some of the toppings inside the cone as well would enhance the overall experience.

First Light Mocktail

At Meteor Astropub, nestled within Celestial Park at Epic Universe, you’ll find an out-of-this-world concoction. The official description reveals a mix of Monin blue raspberry and vanilla crème syrups, blue prism powder, Minute Maid blue raspberry, Sprite, and sweet cream cold foam, finished with a sprinkle of galactic sugar.

In simpler terms, during my visit to Epic Universe, I was drawn to the unique food and drinks offered in the four themed areas. However, many of the park’s restaurants are situated in the central hub, Celestial Park.

At Meteor Astropub, near Stardust Racers, I came across a striking drink called First Light Mocktail. Its sweet cream cold foam reminded me of the topping on Universal’s Butterbeer. Essentially, it was a blue raspberry lollipop in liquid form, with a frothy butterbeer-like top layer. It was incredibly sweet, but a child with a strong preference for sweets (and, well, me) would find it delightful.

Frank & Friends Pretzel

As a movie-goer strolling through the Dark Universe, I stumbled upon De Lacey’s Cottage, and the sight of the Frankenstein’s Monster pretzel was a delightful surprise. The official description, “Pretzel served with white cheese,” might seem simple, but this snack is anything but ordinary.

Biting into the soft, tender pretzel, I was reminded of why I love these treats so much. They can be hit or miss, but when they’re right, they’re simply irresistible. However, many theme park pretzels fall short, either cold and hard or caked with too much salt. But not this one! The Frankenstein’s Monster pretzel is a delightful exception, offering everything you could want in a theme park treat.

My suggestion for an upgrade? Why limit yourself to just the head? Instead, offer a variety of body part pretzels – an arm pretzel, a leg pretzel, and even a torso pretzel. With each bite, I could create my very own Frankenstein’s Monster! As I savored each piece, I would shout “It’s alive! It’s alive!” before taking another bite. It’s hard to believe that someone fell in love with me and has stayed married for over 15 years now – I still can’t wrap my mind around it!

Frankenstein Gummy Brains

Location: Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, situated in Celestial Park
Product Description: These are actually gummy brains. Yes, you heard it right.
Personal Opinion: Frankly, I wasn’t too hopeful about these; I bought them because they were quirky and I adore anything kitschy. To my surprise, they were fantastic: They had the perfect gummy texture, with a tangy strawberry taste. If brains aren’t your preference, Epic Universe offers a variety of Universal Monsters candies, such as Dracula gummy fangs, Creature From the Black Lagoon sour gummy fish, and Wolf Man sour stars and moons. You can find them all at the candy shop near the main entrance. Let me tell you, when you skip over the enticing pastries and cakes by the cash register to buy some realistic miniature brains, you certainly get some curious glances from the staff.

Gobber’s Mead

Location: Mead Hall, within the How to Train Your Dragon realm at Epic Universe
Official Description: A blend of Boysenberry-blackcurrant vanilla with Grains of Paradise infusion.
My Thoughts: Since Mead Hall is the main restaurant in the How to Train Your Dragon section of Epic Universe, I thought it would be fitting to sample a drink inspired by the Vikings. Gobber’s Mead, exclusively available at Epic Universe, convinced me that mead could indeed be delightful. As described, the flavors of Boysenberry-blackcurrant vanilla with Grains of Paradise were all discernible and yet the drink remained refreshing and light.

Labotocotta

Location: The Stakehouse in the Dark Cosmos
Official Description: “Vanilla panna cotta resembling a brain, served with raspberry sauce.”
My Take: The Stakehouse in Epic Universe offers two intriguingly unsettling desserts. One is the Red Velvet Death, a red velvet cake adorned with rice puffs that appear like crawling insects, and the other is this brain-like panna cotta suspended in a petri dish filled with raspberry sauce. Although the red velvet cake appeared more terrifying, the “Labotocotta” offered a more pleasing taste; the creamy richness harmonized well with the tangy raspberry flavor. So it turns out, two of my favorite edibles in Epic Universe were desserts resembling brains. After years of indulging in cinema-inspired cuisine, I suppose my own taste buds have been affected, and I’m now eager to find alternatives for my malfunctioning palate.

Red Shell Calzone

Location: Yoshi’s Snack Island within Super Nintendo Land
Official Description: “Red shell calzone packed with Italian meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.”
Personal Observation: My coworkers found this snack unimpressive; one even mentioned it was like a standard pepperoni pizza Hot Pocket. But for me, who hasn’t had an official Hot Pocket in about 20 years yet consumed many during my college days, eating this slightly enhanced version was like savoring a blast from the past.
It seems intentional. Hot Pockets are often associated with gamers – something you quickly consume during intense gaming sessions without taking a break for a full meal. Therefore, this snack is perfect for a quick bite between rides on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Mine Cart Madness. (For vegetarians, Yoshi’s Snack Island offers a green calzone as an alternative.)

Snow Wraith

Location: Spit Fyre Grill located at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Official Description: “Piña Colada ICEE® with blue raspberry syrup.”
My Reflections: Since dragons breathe fire, wouldn’t a themed dragon drink be hot? However, the Spit Fyre Grill is situated next to an animatronic Snow Wraith, a creature that freezes with ice, which explains the icy nature of this drink.
Many of the mocktails and themed drinks in Epic Universe lean towards the sweet side, catering to children and families who enjoy sweets. The Snow Wraith had a slightly better balance due to the mix of sweet piña colada and tart raspberry syrup. I finished it before it could start melting in the 95-degree heat (quite fitting for a dragon-themed setting).
(Note: The temperature of 95 degrees is quite fitting and appropriate for a true dragon-themed experience.)

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2025-07-14 19:34