Harry Potter HBO Series Films at London Zoo With Young Cast

The first leaked on-set photos from HBO's Harry Potter TV series have surfaced online, offering fans an exclusive glimpse of the young lead actor alongside the iconic Muggle family, the Dursleys.

Production commenced this week at London Zoo, recreating a pivotal moment from the first novel where Harry (portrayed by Dominic McLaughlin) miraculously releases a snake to terrorize his bratty cousin Dudley.

These images reveal our inaugural look at Dudley (Amos Kitson), Aunt Petunia (Bel Powley) and Uncle Vernon (Daniel Rigby) in full period costume. The Dursleys' deliberately outdated fashion choices stand out - Dudley wears a retro shellsuit while Vernon sports thick-rimmed glasses with his bushy mustache and patterned shirt.

The character designs meticulously align with the novels' timeline, placing Dudley's 11th birthday in June 1991, mere months before Harry's initial journey to Hogwarts.

While J.K. Rowling's original books were published starting in 1997, the narrative primarily unfolds in the early 1990s, culminating in 1998 before jumping to an epilogue set in 2017.

Zoo visitors witnessed the filming process firsthand as actors interacted with various exhibits. This public location marks one of the few exterior shoots for the first season, with most production occurring at Warner Bros.' Leavesden Studios complex.

The studio is currently building a dedicated facility to accommodate up to 600 young actors as filming intensifies.

FIRST LOOK AT THE DURSLEYS pic.twitter.com/1mIHKsJv5P

— Wizarding World Direct (@WW_Direct) July 17, 2025

Warner Bros. and HBO intend to adapt each novel into its own season, with the ambitious project expected to span 8-10 years. The premiere season is slated for 2027.

HBO commemorated the production start by releasing an image of McLaughlin as Harry in Hogwarts attire, followed by Shaun of the Dead star Nick Frost's transformation into Hagrid.

Still awaiting their costume reveals are veteran actors John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Paul Whitehouse as Filch, and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.