It may feel like the final Harry Potter movie just premiered in theaters, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 aired over a decade ago.
Since then, the Potterverse has continued to expand—with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, the Fantastic Beasts movie series, and the Hogwarts Legacy video game.Now, a TV series based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books will be coming to Max (formerly HBO Max), with one book serving as the basis for each season. Bloomberg first reported that Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. was nearing a deal for the show.
Rowling said in a statement, "Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series."
In November 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav opened up about his desire to continue to create Harry Potter content. "What are we doing with a lot of the big franchises that we have? We're focused on franchises," he said during the company's Q3 earnings call.
Rowling, who has made headlines repeatedly in the past few years for her controversial anti-trans remarks, will be involved in the series as an executive producer, but will not be the showrunner. There's no word if any of the film's original stars—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—would return to the series in any capacity. In 2022, the stars reunited for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.
In response to fans saying they would boycott the show due to Rowling, the author sarcastically tweeted, "Dreadful news, which I feel duty bound to share. Activists in my mentions are trying to organise yet another boycott of my work, this time of the Harry Potter TV show. As forewarned is forearmed, I’ve taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne."
HBO has stood by Rowling despite the controversies. "J.K. is an executive producer, and her insights will be helpful," Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content, said in a statement. "We are in the Harry Potter business. The TV show is new and exciting, but we’ve been in the Harry Potter business for 20 years; this isn’t a new decision. We’re comfortable being in the Potter business. J.K. is a very online conversation … It’s very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into. Our priority is what’s onscreen. The Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and that’s our priority, what’s on the screen."
In February 2024, Zaslav revealed they are targeting a 2026 premiere date for the project, saying he is "thrilled to be reigniting this franchise," and in April 2024, that date was confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery.
All eight Harry Potter films are currently streaming on Max.
While we wait for more news on the Harry Potter series, re-read the bestselling books:
Scholastic Paperbacks Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
