Calling all witches, wizards, and Muggle fans!
Exciting new details about HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation have been revealed, sparking a fresh wave of anticipation 13 years after the last original film was released
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Announcement for Max’s new Harry Potter series.
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The show’s creative masterminds, Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, who previously worked their magic on Succession, joined HBO CEO Casey Bloys for a surprise announcement at the Max Showcase in London.
Filming is set to begin mid-next year at Leavesden Studios, the legendary filming location of the original eight-part film saga, he revealed.
Fans have been on tenterhooks since Warner Bros. Discovery first teased the series last year.
Now, whispers from the wizarding world suggest some major roles are already being cast, including the iconic Professor Snape.
The production team has been inundated with over 32,000 video audition entries for the role of Harry Potter alone.
“We’ve got a dedicated team watching up to 1000 videos a day,” Mylod said.
“The care and passion people have put into this process are incredible. We’re taking this responsibility very seriously.”
The new adaptation, based on J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series, promises to dive deeper into the magical universe than the previous film series.
Gardiner hinted at the vast storytelling potential of the TV series format.
“We get to explore parts of Hogwarts and the wizarding world that fans have only dreamed about. Plus, Peeves finally gets his moment,” she said.
Peeves, the mischievous poltergeist of Hogwarts, appears in all seven novels as a disruptive force, but he was notably left out of the film franchise.
Despite the daunting legacy of the original films, the showrunners are eager to expand rather than replace what came before.
“The films were incredible, but condensing such rich material into two hours per book was a challenge,” Mylod said.
“This series allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the magic.”
Casting frenzy
Speculation around casting has reached fever pitch.
Emmy-nominated actor Paapa Essiedu is rumoured to be in talks to play Professor Snape, though no deal has been confirmed.
“We’re aware of the rumours, but nothing is set in stone,” an HBO representative told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Pre-production is a meticulous process, and we’ll share updates as they’re finalised.”
Meanwhile, original Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes has thrown his support behind the idea of Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy stepping into the dark lord’s shoes.
“Cillian is a fantastic actor. I’d be all in favour,” Fiennes said during a recent appearance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live.
As for J.K. Rowling’s involvement, Bloys defended her ongoing collaboration with the project despite past controversies.
“I’m comfortable with the creative partnership,” he stated.
“The focus is on delivering a series that honours the source material and excites fans.”
With filming set to begin and whispers of Hogwarts halls bustling once again, the Harry Potter series is on track to premiere in 2026 or 2027.
The series will be streaming on HBO Max, which arrives in Australia next year.
