HBO is making it clear that its upcoming Harry Potter reboot isn't simply a fresh coat of paint on the original films. New promotional material has revealed redesigned wands for five major characters — Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and Neville Longbottom — and the changes range from subtle to impossible to miss.

For many fans, those original movie wands became more than props. Replicas filled shelves, and specific designs became inseparable from beloved characters. HBO is setting all of that aside and starting fresh. Here's a look at what the new versions bring to the Wizarding World.

Neville Longbottom Gets Perhaps the Biggest Makeover

Neville's redesign may generate the strongest reactions of the bunch. Rather than the polished look fans remember from the films, HBO's version has a natural, understated appearance — resembling a thin tree branch. Neville begins his Hogwarts years using a wand inherited from his father, and unlike several other important wands in the franchise, its exact wood, length, and core have never been officially established. That gives HBO considerable creative freedom, even as it moves away from a design fans have known for decades.

Draco Malfoy's Wand Gets a Much Lighter Look

Draco's redesigned wand takes another noticeable departure from the movies. The new version has a lighter, creamy-brown appearance that more closely reflects the hawthorn wood used to craft it. The wand measures roughly 25 centimeters and contains a unicorn hair core. HBO still appears to be keeping the design clean and refined — fitting for Draco and the wealthy Malfoy family — but actor Lox Pratt's Draco won't be carrying the same wand audiences associated with Tom Felton's portrayal.

Ron Weasley's Wand Barely Resembles the Movie Version

Ron's redesign pushes things even further. His first wand belonged to his older brother Charlie Weasley, made of ash with a unicorn-hair core — a fitting detail for a character who relies on hand-me-down possessions early in the story. HBO's version appears considerably lighter than the original movie wand, and the handle features markings and indentations that give it a more distinctly wood-like appearance. It's one of the clearest examples of the reboot establishing its own visual identity, and it's likely to divide fans who grew up with the original design.

Hermione Granger Keeps One Familiar Detail

Hermione's new wand may be the easiest for longtime fans to accept. Her 27-centimeter vine wand contains a dragon heartstring core, and HBO has retained the twisting, vine-inspired details that defined Hermione's movie wand — though the reboot version sports a noticeably darker finish. The design still feels connected to the character's established imagery without being a direct copy. Arabella Stanton steps into the role from Emma Watson, and she'll carry a wand that feels familiar without being identical.

Harry Potter's Famous Wand Has Been Reworked

Then there's the wand that matters most. Harry's 28-centimeter holly wand contains a phoenix feather core — the same phoenix that supplied the core inside Voldemort's wand, creating an important magical connection between the two. HBO hasn't completely reinvented Harry's design; the coloring and shape remain relatively familiar. But the reboot version looks smoother and more polished than the movie wand. Dominic McLaughlin's Harry gets something recognizable without carrying a direct copy of Daniel Radcliffe's iconic prop.

HBO Is Rebuilding the Wizarding World From the Ground Up

The redesigned wands arrive as HBO prepares to launch its new Harry Potter series on December 25, 2026. Season 1 will consist of eight episodes adapting Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, giving the story considerably more screen time than the original film adaptation.

Dominic McLaughlin leads the cast as Harry, with Alastair Stout as Ron and Arabella Stanton as Hermione. Lox Pratt plays Draco Malfoy, and Rory Wilmot takes on the role of Neville Longbottom. The adult cast includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Those casting choices already signaled that Hogwarts would look and feel different. The new wand designs confirm that HBO wants the entire Wizarding World to reflect that fresh start — right down to the props its students carry.

A New Visual Era for Harry Potter

Replacing designs this beloved was always going to be one of HBO's biggest risks. For an entire generation, the original films established what these characters, locations, costumes, and magical objects looked like. HBO now has to convince viewers to embrace another version.

The redesigned wands are an early test of that. Hermione and Harry retain traces of what came before, while Ron, Draco, and Neville move further away from their movie counterparts. Whether fans embrace those changes remains to be seen — but ahead of the December 25 premiere, it's clear that HBO isn't treating the original movie designs as untouchable.