"Harry Potter" TV Adaptation Is a Go at HBO Max

The “Harry Potter” TV adaptation is officially moving forward at HBO Max.

The announcement was made Wednesday during Warner Bros. Discovery’s presentation to the press and investors, during which it was announced that HBO Max and Discovery+ are officially being combined into a new service dubbed simply Max.

The project is based on J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series, which consists of seven novels.

The series would be produced by Warner Bros Television. Each season of the show will be based on one of the books in the franchise, with Warner Bros. Discovery describing the show as a “decade-long series.” It will feature an entirely new cast from the movies.

Max will produce in association with Brontë Film and TV, and Warner Bros. Television. Rowling will executive produce along with Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts.

HBO Max and its then-parent company WarnerMedia started exploring a potential Harry Potter TV series a couple of years ago.

At the time, Warner Bros appointed Kids, Young Adult, and Classics president Tom Ascheim to manage the Wizarding World and Potter franchises, which include theme parks, tours, and the $9.1 billion-grossing theatrical library that spans the Harry Potter and spinoff Fantastic Beasts titles.

Under that setup, Ascheim became WarnerMedia’s senior rep in its relationship with Rowling and her representatives, and exploratory conversations for a Max series got underway.

However, after the Discovery acquisition was completed a year ago, that unit was disbanded and Ascheim exited the company.

Nonetheless, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has stressed multiple times his focus on franchises, with mining the Harry Potter IP identified as a priority. He has met multiple times with Rowling and has spoken up in support of the author who has been involved in an ongoing controversy over her comments on transgender issues.

In the past couple of years, WBD and its predecessor WM have had success with the Harry Potter 20th anniversary reunion special on HBO Max; the "Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses" show on TBS; and, most recently "The Hogwarts Legacy" hit video game. There is also the hit Broadway show “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which serves a sequel to the book series.