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Although we don’t have a new Harry yet, the HBO series plans to begin production in a few months anyway.
Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter is, for better and worse, the sort of thing that just cannot go away. It’s too baked into people’s brains as a foundational piece of storytelling for multiple gnerations, and series creator J.K. Rowling is one of those people who just doesn’t really care if you like them. So while the Harry Potter franchise has been quieter in the last few years, the Boy Who Lived is never far away.
A new Harry Potter series for streaming has reportedly been in the works for several years, however, Warner Bros. made things official in 2023 by revealing their plans for a new adaptation of the Harry Potter novels for Max ( will now also air on HBO). . ). Exactly; We don’t do side stories or prequels like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. That is genuine, since a television series allows the story to be told with much more intensity than the film series starring Daniel Radcliffe. Each of the films in between two and three hours long; However, each season of this series will give us much more time in the wizarding world than that.
Just in case you’ve been living under the Shrieking Shack and have no idea what’s going on, Harry Potter is an 11-year-old boy who gets accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry only to learn that his family’s history with a deadly dark lord will come to threaten the entire wizarding world and those he loves most.
The ambitious narrative of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, which spanned 8 films between 2001 and 2011, is the latest effort to delve into the cinematic universe of Rowling’s Wizarding World. Warner Bros. has also produced 3 films in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off. outside of the franchise, he authorized a theme park attraction, leveled the production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and recently introduced the open-world video game Hogwarts Legacy.
The announcement of the new adaptation has sparked excitement (and some apprehension) among wizarding world enthusiasts. Here’s everything you want to know about the new series, its cast, a conceivable release date, and what the original stars have to say about the reinvention.
While we don’t have a cast for the new series yet, Warner Bros. is said to be planning to start filming in the summer of 2025, just a few months away, according to showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, who were speaking at a presentation . Warner. Bros Discovery is based in London, as reported via Variety. Mylod also mentioned that they have auditioned over 32,000 kids for roles so far, so they may already be ready. to get her new Harry. They didn’t mention an exit window in the entire presentation, so there’s no further explanation on that.
The progression of such a monumental task is still in its early stages and will be a long process. While we were all hoping for a 2025 release, David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, said in February 2024 that the series was aiming for a 2026 premiere.
However, in December 2024, Variety reported that JB Perrette, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Global Streaming and Gaming. Discovery, speaking at a generation and media convention and hinted that the series would possibly not air until 2027. He said, “If you look at ’26 and ’27, you start a 10-year adventure in the Harry Potter series,’ we’re really excited and I’d say it might be the biggest event until we get to that series. “Although the appointment implies that it may also be the year 2026 more or less. 2027, Variety states: “Perrette hinted that HBO’s next Harry Potter TV series, which in the past aimed to premiere in 2026 and is lately in the casting phase for its new Harry, Ron and Hermione series, will arrive in 2027. “
Though the news of a potential later premiere date may sound bad, let’s look at this another way: HBO appears to be serious about getting this right and not rushing the show to air, and that’s the most important thing for fans.
The main promotional point of the original Harry Potter films is their dynamic cast, led by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, as well as legendary British actors such as Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes. But HBO made it clear in its announcement of the new series that it would feature an entirely new cast.
In November 2024, Variety reported that Warner Bros. was looking for Mark Rylance, the star of Dunkirk and Bridge of Spies, to be the new Dumbledore. Rylance is slightly younger than Richard Harris when he took on the role in the first Harry Potter. film, and is older than the late Michael Gambon when he reprized the role in The Prisoner of Azkaban after Harris’ death. Rylance, an Oscar winner whose characters tend to have mild behavior, would be a smart choice for Hogwarts’ beloved headmaster. However, nothing is official yet and in December 2024, Deadline reported that Mark Strong was also in the running for the role.
Deadline also reported in December that HBO was “interested in casting” Paapa Essiedu (I Can Destroy You) as Severus Snape, although no formal offer has been made.
Warner Bros. has announced a showrunner for the new series: Francesca Gardiner, who has never before directed a series whose previous writing credits include episodes of Succession and His Dark Materials.
We also have a director for some episodes: Mark Mylod, a television veteran. Mylod has directed projects for HBO and Showtime: episodes of Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us, Shameless, The Affair, etc. , although his most productive work is probably the dark satire film The Menu, starring Ralph FiennesArray. Mylod is no stranger. to this type of production.
In announcing the series, Max released a brief teaser that offers nothing about the new series, only acknowledging its existence. But it does include the original film series’ iconic typeface and John Williams’ score — the use of which left some scratching their heads. If the streamer intends to remake Rowling’s stories from the ground up, will it still use the same branding and music? Not likely, but until anything gets made, the original’s effective iconography and soundtrack will have to do.
Early reports about the series indicated that it would last seven seasons, faithful to the adaptation of one of Rowling’s books. But Warner Bros. Discovery also said it would be a “decade-spanning series. ” In February 2024, Zaslav showed that the series would have seven seasons, each of which would correspond to a book.
There’s also the vast mythology of the magical world that Rowling has built over the years, which the series’ creators can also draw inspiration from when developing the new television adaptation.
Overall, this means you’ll expect a much more physically powerful adaptation of the novels than the films, as each season will be particularly longer than either film. This will also allow you to develop some of the early stories with key elements that were only conceived in later books, if you wish.
The mind behind the Harry Potter franchise isn’t the most beloved person on Earth as the Wizarding World she built makes its comeback.
Rowling has become a much-maligned figure in recent years following controversial comments toward the trans community beginning in 2020, and she hasn’t softened her stance or apologized since, instead doubling down on her hateful takes. Rowling has always been outspoken, but her flurry of comments since have driven some of her most ardent fans to denounce her and voice opposition to her future involvement with the franchise.
That did not stop Warner Bros. from featuring her in the new series, of which she will be executive producer. In a statement, he said: “Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my e-books is vital to me, and I look forward to it. ” to be a component of this new adaptation that will allow a degree of intensity and detail that only a long e-book allows.
In January 2024, Deadline reported that Rowling “should worry about making decisions about the show” and in February 2024, Zaslav showed that she would be part of the show.
With a whole new cast donning the robes of Hogwarts’ four houses, the original cast will officially be passing the wand. Daniel Radcliffe, the original Harry Potter, is totally fine with it.
“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe told ComicBook.com in July 2023. “So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”
Other actors have remained mum about the new series so far. But many of them are still very much involved with the legacy of their time in the films. Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, previously spoke to Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2022 and said he would “definitely consider” subbing in for a role in the Broadway or West End productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Could he feel the same way about the new series? Maybe, but fans are already hoping he might step into the role of Lucius Malfoy, his own character’s father (played in the movies by Jason Issacs).
While waiting for the Harry Potter series to start taking shape, an entire corner of the streaming service Max is committed to the wizarding world. There, enthusiasts can stream all 8 original films, as well as all 3 Fantastic Beasts films, Harry Potter. 20th Anniversary: Back to Hogwarts reunion movie and specials like the Hogwarts Tournament of Champions hosted by Helen Mirren.
The main Harry Potter film series is also available on Peacock, and the entire franchise can also be purchased on iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, and other virtual retailers.