Thirteen years after “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” released in theaters and concluded Harry’s journey on the big screen, the Harry Potter universe is making a comeback in the form of episodic television.
Led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod of “Succession,” HBO’s take on the beloved book-turned-movie-franchise aims to bring the magical world back to life as Harry Potter discovers he’s a wizard and leaves his muggle family behind to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Along the way, he befriends Ron and Hermione and becomes a significant part of a plot against Lord Voldemort, or notoriously called, “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
The show comes nearly 30 years after J.K. Rowling published “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which was adapted into a film directed by Chris Columbus in 2001.
In total, the original “Harry Potter” franchise has grossed $7.7 billion at the worldwide box office.
Here is everything know so far about HBO's "Harry Potter" series.
How will the show differ from the movies?
Each of the seven books will make up an entire season. Gardiner and Myold have talked about seeing the series as a chance to expand on the books and movies without undoing their legacy.
For example, they talked about their desire not to “mess with” the Great Hall look. The pair hopes to “really dig into the character arcs” and explore the various characters in Hogwarts that didn’t get as much screen time before, including staff and workers.
Will J.K. Rowling be a part of the show?
J.K. Rowling will serve as an executive producer on the show. At a press conference on November 12, HBO chief Casey Bloys mentioned that she was “very, very involved in the process of selecting the writer and the director,”.
Do we know the cast yet?
It has been reported that around 32,000 kids auditioned in Ireland and the U.K. for the lead roles of the Golden Trio. As of December 5, Gardiner and Mylod were reviewing audition tapes and meeting with shortlisted candidates in January.
In other major roles, Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”) is being eyed for Dumbledore while Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”) is a top contender for Professor Severus Snape.
No official deals have been confirmed yet, though, with casting still in early talks.
When will the show be filmed and released?
The series is set to start filming in the summer of 2025 in Leavesden, where the movies were also filmed. HBO’s “Harry Potter” series is set to debut on Max in 2026.
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