HBO Max has confirmed that a Harry Potter TV series is on the way! The series is set to be a “faithful adaptation” of the iconic books by J.K. Rowling, with the show diving deep into each book. For those who are not familiar with the Harry Potter story, it follows a young boy who discovers he is a wizard and must juggle learning magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with protecting the wizarding world from the evil Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
While rumors have been swirling since January 2021, it was only on 12th April 2023 that the streaming giant confirmed the series. In a tweet, HBO Max wrote, “Max has ordered the first ever #HarryPotter scripted television series, a faithful adaptation of the iconic books.” But what do we know so far?
Well, for starters, it looks like there will be more than one season, and it will not follow the rumored format of one season per book. Instead, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stated that “for 10 consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on [Max]”. This may imply that the series will take a similar approach to the films, which split the seventh book into two movies.
While we don’t know the exact release date for the first season, sources suggest it won’t air until 2025 or 2026. The show will feature an entirely new cast, and while it may be hard to imagine anyone other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as Harry, Ron, and Hermione, respectively, we’re excited to see who takes on these iconic roles. There are rumors that Tom Felton may return to the franchise to play Draco Malfoy’s father, Lucius, but nothing has been confirmed.
HBO & Max content chairman and CEO Casey Bloys mentioned author J.K. Rowling’s participation in the process of creating the new show, “J.K. is an executive producer, and her insights will be helpful… our priority is what’s onscreen. The Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and that’s our priority, what’s on the screen.”
Overall, the Harry Potter TV series on HBO Max is shaping up to be an exciting and faithful adaptation of the beloved books. While we’ll have to wait a few years to see the finished product, we can’t wait to dive back into the wizarding world and see what adventures await us!
