Harry Potter series: New set photos spark plenty of fan speculation

A series of new set photos from HBO’s Harry Potter production recently surfaced on Reddit. The filming location is especially interesting: images published by the Daily Mail suggest that the scenes were shot at Waterloo Station. In the books, however, the Hogwarts Express departs from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross.

It seems unlikely that HBO will introduce entirely new locations. Fans on Reddit suspect that Waterloo is simply being used as a stand-in and will appear as King’s Cross in the series. The reasons are unclear but likely practical: Waterloo may have offered better logistics for the production or simply been easier to access.

Vernon Dursley’s appearance suggests filming may be nearing completion

One particularly interesting photo shared on X shows the actors playing Vernon Dursley and Molly Weasley together. In book 1, only one scene really fits this pairing: the students’ return at the end of the school year, when Harry arrives back at the station after his first year at Hogwarts and is picked up by the Dursleys. This suggests that HBO may be close to wrapping filming and still on track for a December series launch.

Unknown male figure, possibly Hermione’s father?

Another detail fueling speculation is an unidentified man visible in a staircase photo. Most fans rule out Arthur Weasley, as he does not appear in book 1. Many instead believe the man could be Hermione’s father, who meets his daughter at the train station at the end of the first book.

Fans are optimistic

The leaked images have been met with a largely positive response from the community. The possible train station scene from book 1 is seen as another sign that HBO is taking faithfulness to the books very seriously. The actors’ outfits are also being well received: Vernon Dursley appears in a grey business outfit with a distinctive moustache, while Molly Weasley has a warm, colorful look. The Weasley twins’ costumes have also drawn praise. Fans describe them as having a worn, second-hand look with 1990s charm, apparently intended to reflect the Weasley family’s financial situation.