Harry Potter TV show: key information
– Will debut on HBO in 2026 or 2027
– Filming begins in mid-2025
– No official trailer released yet
– Six main cast have been announced, including Dumbledore, Snape and Hagrid
– Rest of the cast still under wraps
– Plot will follow J.K. Rowling’s books
– Show will last ten consecutive years
The Harry Potter TV show will debut on HBO in 2026 or 2027, remaking the iconic books-turned-movies for the small screen. Reigniting the magic on one of the best streaming services is a gargantuan task and one they’re taking the necessary time to do justice before filming begins in mid-2025. But, before we can ready our wands, there’s a lot of the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter being reshaped – including a whole new cast list.
Fortunately, there’s lots to talk about when it comes to release date, casting announcements, plot synopsis and more. And putting all this information in one place is a task we’ve busied ourselves with while rewatching all eight movies for the umpteenth time. Here’s everything you need to know about the Harry Potter TV show making its way to HBO.
Full spoilers to follow for all the Harry Potter movies.
Harry Potter TV show: is there a release date?
Wands at the ready. The upcoming HBO Original Series, #HarryPotter, will be filming at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden with production beginning in Summer 2025 and coming to Max. pic.twitter.com/6JSOA20w52December 5, 2024
Unfortunately, there’s no release date to share just yet. However, Deadline have revealed that the series is expected to premiere in 2026 or 2027, following an announcement by Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette.
It has also been confirmed, as shown in the above tweet, that filming will commence in Leavesden this summer, in the same location as the previous eight movies. So, while there’s time to wait, it gives us plenty of opportunity to dust off our wands and brooms for its arrival. And for UK viewers, that’ll most likely be on Sky and Now TV since HBO and Max aren’t available in this region.
Harry Potter TV show: has a trailer been released?
Your Hogwarts letter is here. Max has ordered the first ever #HarryPotter scripted television series, a faithful adaptation of the iconic books. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/3CgEHLYhchApril 12, 2023
With filming yet to commence, there’s no trailer to share. For now, only a short teaser has been released by Max when the show was first announced, showing little but floating candles assembling the boy wizard’s name.
As we loom ever closer to the eventual Harry Potter TV show release date though, we’ll be sure to update here when we get even a hint of magic to share.
Harry Potter TV show: confirmed and predicted cast
Potential spoilers follow for the Harry Potter TV show.
First and foremost, in June 2024, it was revealed that Harry Potter TV show lands a magical creative duo with a showrunner in Francesca Gardiner and head director in Mark Mylod. And they’ve been busy ever since casting magical hires to play the iconic roles of the franchise in a total revamp from the movies.
And HBO’s Harry Potter TV confirmed the cast for Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid and more in April. Starting with one of the most iconic roles, the HBO press release confirmed John Lithgow will become Dumbledore.
In conversation with Screen Rant, Lithgow explained the offer to play the iconic Hogwarts headmaster “was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid. But I’m very excited.” Adding: “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I’ve said yes.”
Another confirmed cast member is Nick Frost, who will play Rubeus Hagrid. And Frost himself took the opportunity to say: “Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid. Robbie, I promise I won’t let you down.” In reference to Robbie Coltrane who played the iconic groundskeeper in all the movies before his passing.
And there’s more cast reveals with Paapa Essiedu as Potions Professor Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch all joining the wonderful wizarding world.
The question yet to be answered though is who will play Harry, Ron and Hermione? In September 2024, an open casting call started circulating online, and it’s authenticity was then confirmed by HBO to Variety. And reportedly some 32,000 kids auditioned for the leading trio. No surprise given the sheer success of the franchise.
Though casting is now closed, it read: “Please prepare a short poem or story of your choosing. It can be from your favorite book, a poem that you love, a monologue from a play or something you’ve created yourself. Please, nothing from ‘Harry Potter‘. Please use your own accents. 30 seconds maximum!” Alongside a request for a longer self-tape with more information about the actor.
With filming taking place this summer though, we’re sure these announcements will come thick and fast – and we’ll be sure to update here when they do.
Harry Potter TV show: story synopsis and rumors
Full spoilers follow for Harry Potter.
It’s been years in the making as we first reported rumors surrounding a Harry Potter TV adaptation in January 2021. But, news of the Harry Potter TV show was first officially announced in April 2023 by Warner Bros. Discovery. As reported in Deadline, the show will have J.K Rowling as an executive producer, and will be “a faithful take on her classic Harry Potter books with a new cast.” So, when it comes to the plot, if you’ve read the books or seen the movies, you’ll know exactly what’s about to happen.
For the TV show though, it’ll be another long-running adaptation, but this time even longer, with CEO David Zaslav saying: “It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean it’s really something.” Which means the story that J.K. Rowling told over seven world-building novels will have an opportunity to unravel across countless hours.
Deadline also revealed that the show will stick to the “canonical” ages of its characters, which unlike the movies means that certain characters will be much younger than their movie counterparts. The report divulges that showrunner Gardiner had described the show as offering up a “bigger sandpit to play in”, as well as including more activity from Hogwarts staff and “having fun with Peeves in the corridor”. Mylod also added that he will “dig into the depths and crevices of Hogwarts”.
With ten consecutive years to play with, there’s obviously a lot more room for storytelling given the film franchise adapted the seven books into eight movies and the TV show is reportedly going for ten whole seasons.
Will there be more seasons of Harry Potter?
Absolutely. As discussed above, the Harry Potter TV show will follow closely alongside J.K. Rowling’s books in the same way the movies did and, as confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, will run for “ten consecutive years”. Ten years of more Harry Potter? We’re feeling utterly spoilt.
Though there has been some mixed feelings surrounding the show regarding J.K. Rowling’s criticism of transgender rights and transgender issues in recent years. Onboard as an executive producer for the TV adaptation, her continued comments could affect the show overall. But Warner Bros. has stood behind her continued collaboration in the franchise with a clear statement to Variety: “J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.”
If, like us, the impending arrival of the Harry Potter TV show has left you contemplating another (or first ever) run through of the iconic movie franchise, then here’s how to watch the Harry Potter movies in order and you can always delve into the ever-contentious discussion of the best Harry Potter movies ranked, from worst to best.
For more Max-based coverage, read our guides on House of the Dragon season 3, Creature Commandos season 2, Peacemaker season 2, and Euphoria season 3.
