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Harry Potter Is Returning in December - Better Brush Up on Those Potions

Aug 12, 2026

New Scholastic title brings the alchemy.

You probably don't want to think about it - but if you were 10 years old when the first Harry Potter movie debuted in theaters in 2001, you'll be turning...35 this year. Got that?


The original 'Sorcerer's Stone' was released November 14 of that year to absolute hysteria and eventually a bajillion (okay, a billion-plus) dollar take at the box office. Alas, those three lovable scamps - Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as Hermione, Rupert Grint as Ron - are all grown up now, doing serious theater, or acclaimed films like 'Little Women'...and we must admit we're a little squishy-eyed with nostalgia for those thrillingly adventurous times gone by at Hogwarts.


But this December HBO Max is bringing Harry and friends back, this time to the small screen, with the new series 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'; and from the looks of the first trailer, it just might actually be pretty awesome. There's some big name acting talent - Nicholas Hoult, John Lithgow, Janet McTeer - and a convincingly adorable Dominic McLaughlin in the iconic lead role.


Honestly, there's nothing we'd rather get in our stocking this year than a genuine Harry Potter return to form.





And yet, as Potteriffic presents go, the always entertaining Scholastic book imprint Klutz will be delivering early. Indeed, this September 1, 'Harry Potter: Stained Glass Back to Hogwarts' will hit the shelves for kids of all ages. It promises to be chock full of art projects that, when completed and displayed in your bedroom window, will light up like those nouveau-gothic styled windows of the mythical school of the title, where Harry and his trusted companions spent their youth, forever doing battle with terrifying villains like Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and Lord Voldemort (a weirdly breathing but bone-chillingly frightful Ralph Fiennes) .

Of course, the real reason for the Harry, Ron and Hermione's collective presence at Hogwarts was to train as future formidable Wizards. And so another Klutz title, released this past July, is an absolute must for keeping the baddies at bay. 'Harry Potter Potions Class' actually includes mini potion jars for recreating everything from 'Felix Felicis', also known as "Liquid Luck", and 'Amortentia', the love potion (just please do be careful who you use that one on). For particularly ambitious young sorcerers, there are also the ingredients needed for conjuring your very own original elixirs. (May we suggest one that makes pizza-flavored ice cream a thing?)


Of course, as always happens, December and the new HBO Max series will be here before you know it - so we strenuously suggest not delaying in honing those Wizarding skills. Fortunately, now you know exactly where to start.


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