The Harry Potter series will be a HBO Original and will stream on Max. But what else do we know about this exciting new program?
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Will the TV adaptation be faithful to the Harry Potter books?
Yep! The show has promised to be "authentic to the original books", but that is not to say the show won’t feature things we didn’t see in the films. In a statement, J.K. Rowling said she was looking forward to allowing for a “degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series” – so we would certainly hope the series will unturn new stones we didn’t get to see from the films.
Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, added that the series would “deep dive into each of the iconic books”, while showrunner Francesca Gardiner promises we will see "things we haven't seen". She also spoke about staying true to the canonical ages of the characters ("Snape is 31 in 1991, so it's a very different vibe") while director Mark Mylod was keen to dig into the "depths and crevices" of Hogwarts.
Who is directing the show?
Mark Mylod (who has also lent his talents to the likes of Succession alongside episodes of Game of Thrones in the past) will serve as both Executive Producer and direct multiple episodes.
Who is the showrunner?
That would be the aforementioned Francesca Gardiner, who will serve as showrunner for the series. She is a self-confessed Harry Potter mega-fan, and has worked on previous HBO series, Succession.
Where will the show be filmed?
The wizarding world is going back to its roots, returning to Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden for filming.
When will production start?
Production is slated for mid-summer, 2025!
Do we know any other creative talent connected to the show?
It was recently confirmed that Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Holly Waddington has signed on to the project, so the quirky fashions of the wizarding world will be in safe hands.
What will the show be called?
That, we do not know yet. Although we welcome you to speculate! Probably something to do with that Harry Potter lad, if we had to guess.
What will J.K. Rowling's involvement be?
J.K. Rowling will serve as one of the executive producers on the series.
She will be joined by fellow executive producers Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, David Heyman of Heyday Films. Francesca Gardiner (showrunner) also serves as executive producer alongside director Mark Mylod.
Who will star in the show?
Although nobody has been attached to the show as-of-writing, we do know that the show will feature “a new cast for a new generation”, meaning your favourite Harry Potter characters will be played by new faces. We also know that the main trio, Harry, Ron and Hermione, are currently still being auditioned after an open casting-call for British/Irish actors earlier this year. According to Mark Mylod and Francesca Gardiner, over 30,000 people applied!
How long will the series be?
Although we don’t know exactly, the original announcement described the show as being a “decade-long series”, which should keep us busy for a while!
Which Harry Potter characters are confirmed to be appearing in the show?
Well, we know Harry, Ron and Hermione are being auditioned (it would've been pretty strange, had they not been) but we also recently found out that Peeves, who did not feature in the Harry Potter films in the end, WILL be part of this re-telling.
How can we find out more about the show before anyone else?
We promise to keep you abreast of any news the moment we have it. The best way to get the hottest Harry Potter updates straight away is by signing up to our newsletter,which will deliver any scoops to you faster than an owl.
All of this TV talk is getting me in the mood to re-watch the films. Where can I catch up?
We’ve put together a helpful guide documenting how you can stream Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts wherever you are in the world!
When will the show be out?
Patience is a virtue. In other words: we don’t know yet. Much like Sirius Black, for now, you simply must do your waiting!
Streaming service Max is available in many territories across the world - and you can find out the most recent rollout plans here.
