Back to Hogwarts: All the Details on HBO's Upcoming Harry Potter Series
When will filming begin? Which actors are ready to return? Who will be responsible for directing and writing?
In the spring of 2023, it was officially announced at a Warner Bros. Discovery presentation that work had begun on a television adaptation of J. K. Rowling's novels.
The last Harry Potter movie, the Deathly Hallows: Part II, was released just 13 years ago, but HBO is already ready to present a new version of the beloved story. We tell you what to expect from the upcoming premiere.
Harry Potter Series Will Consist of Seven Seasons
It was immediately announced that the series would be divided into seven seasons (exactly the number of books) to be released over the course of ten years. Casey Bloys, one of the heads of HBO, said that the studio would present a deeper vision of each of the novels and create the most accurate adaptation possible. J. K. Rowling herself would be involved as an executive producer.
Also expected to join the project are Neil Blair, who worked on the Fantastic Beasts franchise, and Ruth Canley-Letts, who helped bring Rowling's detective stories, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, to the screen and turned them into the Strike series.
The Cast Is Still Unknown
At the presentation, it was emphasized that the cast would be completely new. Nevertheless, some publications immediately stated that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson could return to their characters and embody their mature versions or appear in new episodic roles. But there is no official confirmation.
Meanwhile, fans have begun to offer their own casting ideas: for example, Adam Driver could play Severus Snape, and Helen Mirren could play Minerva McGonagall.
Harry Potter Series Promises to Be as Big as Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon
As for the scale of the production, HBO representatives recalled that their streaming service is known for such high-profile projects as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. According to them, the Harry Potter series will be on the same level or even higher.
The series was originally scheduled for release in 2025, but last year's Hollywood strikes made adjustments to the schedule.
Harry Potter Series Not Expected in the Near Future
The project still doesn't have an official title: its IMDb page is called Untitled Harry Potter Series. There's no point in hoping for a quick premiere. The filming is expected to start next year.
This is indicated by the casting data: in early September it became known that the creators are looking for children who will be 9 to 11 years old in April 2025. So the release of the new adaptation will be in 2026 or even 2027 at the earliest.
Showrunner and Director Have Worked On Some of the Best TV Projects of Recent Years
Recently, news about the authors of the project appeared. For example, Francesca Gardiner has been named showrunner of the series. As a producer, she has worked on such hits as Succession and Killing Eve.
Mark Mylod will direct several episodes of the upcoming series. His directing credits include Succession, The Last of Us and Game of Thrones.