The wizarding world is about to get a major glow-up. As 2026 unfolds, HBO’s long-awaited Harry Potter television series is on the horizon, promising a deeper dive into J.K. Rowling’s books than the beloved but truncated films ever could. While the remake will lean heavily on the original novels, there’s another source of inspiration that could help it hit the nail on the right on the head: the smash-hit video game Hogwarts Legacy. Released a few years ago, the game didn’t just rehash old material—it expanded, refined, and in some cases flat-out improved on the magical universe. The showrunners would be wise to steal a page from its playbook. Here’s how the HBO series can capture that same magic and, as the kids say, really slay.

1. A Castle That Feels Truly Vast and Spellbinding

Anyone who has wandered the corridors of Hogwarts Legacy knows the film version of the castle feels almost like a postage stamp in comparison. The movies, constrained by physical sets and budget, mostly recycled a handful of beige stone hallways and a couple of iconic chambers. The game, however, delivered the real McCoy: a sprawling, cathedral-like palace with vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows, and a dizzying array of nooks and crannies. Each wing had its own personality, from the lush greenery of the greenhouses to the eerie, torch-lit depths of the dungeons. The HBO remake, with its longer format and modern CGI, has a golden opportunity to build a Hogwarts that finally matches the book’s descriptions in scale and detail. Imagine the trio getting into trouble not just in the old familiar spots, but in entirely new alcoves, secret towers, and forgotten chambers. More castle means more potential for mischief—and that’s the whole kit and caboodle of Harry Potter.

2. Secrets, Portraits, and the Castle’s Hidden Personality

It’s the little things that make Hogwarts feel alive, and Hogwarts Legacy was chock-full of them. The flirting suits of armor that clanked into battle stances, the gossipy portraits that snarked as players walked by, the gargoyles that whispered cryptic hints—these were all straight out of the books but largely absent from the movies. One standout from the game is the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls ballet, which hangs opposite the hidden entrance to the Room of Requirement. Including these tiny details in the TV series would be a chef’s kiss moment for longtime fans. It turns the castle from a static backdrop into a living, breathing ecosystem of magic. The HBO show can use these elements to build a world that rewards eagle-eyed viewers and makes newcomers feel like they’ve stumbled into a place where every stone has a story.

3. A Smarter Spin on the Alohomora Spell

Let’s be real: in the books, Alohomora was a bit of a game-breaker. A simple first-year spell that unlocks almost anything? It’s like giving a burglar a universal skeleton key at orientation. Hogwarts Legacy fixed this head-scratcher by introducing tiers of locks and a nifty magical lock-picking sequence. Basic spells only opened basic doors; stronger enchanted locks demanded a more advanced touch. This kept the spell useful but not overpowered, and gave the world a logical consistency it desperately needed. The HBO adaptation could easily incorporate this fix with a throwaway line from Hermione—maybe she mentions that wizarding locks have evolved to resist simple unlocking charms, or that Alohomora requires specific counter-incantations taught in later years. It’s a small tweak that sharpens the internal logic and stops viewers from screaming, “Why don’t they just use that spell on every door?”

4. Dynamic Duels That Are a Visual Feast

Say what you will about the Harry Potter films, but most magical combat boiled down to two wands connecting with a jet of light and someone flying backward. Exceptions like Dumbledore versus Voldemort were few and far between. Hogwarts Legacy, on the other hand, turned dueling into a fast-paced, visually stunning dance. Spells crackled through the air with distinct colors, impacts staggered opponents in unique ways, and combos felt fluid and cinematic. The HBO series has the chance to reimagine dueling as a genuine martial art where footwork, spell choice, and creativity matter. Picture Harry and Draco’s clashes not as static light shows but as dynamic battles that sweep through the castle, bouncing off walls and shattering suits of armor. That level of spectacle would keep audiences on the edge of their seats and give the action the oomph it always deserved.

5. Expanding the World Beyond the Castle Walls

The books gave us Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest, but Hogwarts Legacy blew the lid off by scattering small wizarding hamlets across the Scottish Highlands. While those settlements may have faded by Harry’s time, the idea of a broader magical landscape is tantalizing. The HBO series doesn’t need to go full open-world, but it could sprinkle in extra scenes—perhaps a Herbology field trip to a remote glen, a Quidditch match against a visiting team from a tiny village, or a mysterious cave system rumored to house ancient magic. These additions would make the wizarding world feel less like a theme park and more like a genuine, lived-in country. Even a casual mention of distant magical communities would add texture and depth that the movies, with their breakneck pacing, could never afford.

6. Hogsmeade as a Bustling Magical Hub

In the films, Hogsmeade felt like a single street with a candy shop and a pub. But as the only all-wizarding settlement in Britain, it should be the genuine article—a bustling town with bakeries, bookshops, eccentric traders, and hidden courtyards. Hogwarts Legacy hinted at this by packing the village with colorful shopkeepers and winding back alleys. The TV series can go even further. Imagine a weekend visit where Harry, Ron, and Hermione duck into a pet store full of kneazles and puffskins, or get lost in a used robe boutique that doubles as a smuggler’s den. More shops mean more characters, more subplots, and more chances to soak in the day-to-day culture of the magical world. It transforms Hogsmeade weekends from a brief outing into a proper event.

7. Slytherins Who Are More Than Just Villains

Finally, it’s time to retire the trope that all Slytherins are rotten to the core. The books, filtered through Harry’s biased viewpoint, painted the house as a nest of future Dark witches and wizards. But Hogwarts Legacy, along with later stories like The Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts films, has shown that ambition and cunning don’t automatically equal evil. The HBO remake can subtly course-correct. It doesn’t need to turn Draco into a secret sweetheart overnight, but introducing a few Slytherin students who are simply competitive, clever, or even kind would go a long way. Maybe a Slytherin helps the trio with a tricky potions assignment, or a sarcastic but harmless Slytherin classmate becomes a recurring background character. This nuance would make the House system feel less black-and-white and add a layer of maturity to the storytelling. After all, even a broken clock is right twice a day—and sometimes a Slytherin can be a real mensch.