The magic of Harry Potter is returning, and fans are already casting their eyes everywhere—even using Google Earth. As production begins for the highly anticipated HBO Original Harry Potter series, a sharp-eyed fan made an exciting discovery online: the newly built Privet Drive set at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Watford.
Privet Drive Set Spotted via Google Earth
A Reddit user, using Google Earth’s historical imagery feature, spotted the recreated version of Privet Drive—Harry Potter’s childhood street where he lived with the Dursleys before heading to Hogwarts. While the original films used a real house in Surrey for filming, the upcoming series takes it a step further by constructing an entire street set exclusively for the show.
The discovery has sparked excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the new adaptation, which promises to be more faithful to J.K. Rowling’s original books. The series is expected to premiere in 2027, with new seasons planned through 2037, offering a decade-long magical journey for a new generation.
Production and Cast Officially Announced
Production officially began in July 2025. On July 14, HBO Max shared a behind-the-scenes photo featuring young Harry Potter and a clapboard, captioned, “First years, step forward. The HBO Original Harry Potter series is now in production.”
The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. The cast also includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer, Katherine Parkinson, Bel Powley, and many more in key roles.
With filming underway and sets already drawing global attention, the journey back to Hogwarts has officially begun—one Google Earth click at a time.
