4 weeks ago
Updated pinch Season 2 news: There will beryllium another season of HBO Max‘s Harry Potter TV series.
HBO’s Harry Potter tv bid has officially gone into production, and a photograph of Dominic McLaughlin arsenic The Boy Who Lived, complete pinch glasses and all, has been released.
The caller Harry, Ron and Hermione have received their Hogwarts admittance letters, arsenic person nan newest additions — four retired of Ron’s six siblings.
Dominic McLaughlin will represent The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter himself. Alastair Stout will play Harry’s champion friend Ronald Weasley, and Arabella Stanton will information retired nan classical trio of heroes arsenic bookworm Hermione Granger, who matches nan courageousness of nan erstwhile 2 Gryffindors.
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Warner Bros. Discovery‘s Harry Potter tv bid is set to statesman filming this summer. It has recovered a costume designer successful Holly Waddington, who precocious won an Oscar successful her trade for Poor Things. Killing Eve scribe Laura Neal has joined nan writers room. Deadline exclusively profiled showrunner Francesca Gardiner pinch penetration from her colleagues.
WBD whitethorn besides enlist a cardinal subordinate from nan films to bring viewers backmost to nan world of Hogwarts: Framestore, British VFX company.
Four months after Deadline revealed that Francesca Gardiner was 1 of 3 finalists to triumph nan prize to reboot nan classical kids franchise for nan mini screen, nan Succession consulting shaper for Seasons 3 and 4 won nan showrunner gig. Gardiner hit Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan to triumph nan gig. Mark Mylod, who worked pinch Gardiner connected Succession will nonstop aggregate episodes of nan bid successful summation to executive producing.
RELATED: John Lithgow On Saying “Yes” To Playing Albus Dumbledore In HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series: “I’m Afraid, But I’m Very Excited”
Chris Columbus, who directed nan first 2 films successful nan franchsie adapted from J.K. Rowlings best-selling books, Harry Potter and nan Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and nan Chamber of Secrets, approves of HBO’s tv reboot, calling it a “spectacular idea.”
At its Max streaming arena successful April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed a caller era is coming for Harry Potter fans. The institution announced a TV bid based connected each 7 books astir nan boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling. On June 25, it was revealed that nan bid is moving to HBO successful a rethink of WBD’s big-budget streaming strategy.
See beneath for nan astir existent answers to nan astir important questions astir nan project.
What is nan Harry Potter TV bid about?
“This caller Max Original bid will dive heavy into each of nan iconic books that fans person continued to bask for each of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content astir nan project, which he besides assured fans would beryllium “a religious adaptation.”
RELATED: The Story Behind Francesca Gardiner’s HBO Hire: Meet The Showrunner Tasked With Casting Another Spell On ‘Harry Potter’ Fans
Early reports had each play of nan bid focusing connected 1 book successful nan Harry Potter book series, which consists of 7 novels, but Bloys said nan task would tally for “10 consecutive years,” which would look to defy nan 1 season, 1 book assertion. For those who opportunity Fantastic Beasts could beryllium leveraged to supply 10 seasons complete 10 years, WBD brass said specifically during nan announcement that FB will not beryllium a portion of nan series.
Whatever nan case, Bloys promised that, arsenic nan institution embarks connected its caller Harry Potter adventure, “We do truthful pinch nan afloat attraction and trade of this franchise.”
Will location beryllium much seasons of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV show?
Yes, HBO has renewed nan bid for a 2nd season, elevating Jon Brown from writer connected Season 1 to co-showrunner for Season 2 pinch Francesca Gardiner.
Has HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV bid started production?
Yes, cameras are rolling arsenic of July 14. HBO had confirmed that nan show would start shooting successful nan summertime of 2025 astatine Leavesden. The April 2025 casting timeline supported this arsenic well. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and EP Mark Mylod made a astonishment quality astatine the Max Showcase successful London to uncover nan large measurement successful production.
Who is creating nan Harry Potter series?
Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod have signed up arsenic its writer and director, respectively. Gardiner will service arsenic showrunner and executive producer, and Mylod will nonstop aggregate episodes successful summation to serving arsenic executive producer.
RELATED: ‘Harry Potter’ HBO Series Finds Its Creative Team In ‘Succession’ Duo Francesca Gardiner & Mark Mylod
It had taken a bit, fixed nan first announcement was successful April 2023, but successful caller months Warner Bros. invited a prime group of creatives successful to transportation ideas for what nan bid could be. They were Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie. Now, nan streaming work and Warner Bros. Television narrowed it down to Jordan, Moran and newer summation Francesca Gardiner, sources said.
Deadline broke nan news past period that Succession writer Francesca Gardiner was among nan finalists. Gardiner was a consulting shaper connected Seasons 3 and 4 of HBO’s Succession. Before moving connected nan Jesse Armstrong creation, she was an exec shaper of HBO and BBC imagination co-production His Dark Materials and was a co-exec shaper of AMC’s Killing Eve. She has besides written connected shows including Starz’s The Rook and Amazon’s The Man In The High Castle.
The writers room now besides includes Laura Neal, scribe of Killing Eve.
RELATED: Miriam Margolyes Doubles Down On ‘Harry Potter’ Adult Fans Stance: “It Was 25 Years Ago, Grow Up!”
Jordan created Netflix bid Teenage Bounty Hunters. Jordan is besides moving pinch nan Orange Is The New Black streamer connected The Decameron, which received a bid order successful 2022.
Tom Moran is simply a British writer, who created Amazon bid The Devil’s Hour, which starred Peter Capaldi. He besides worked connected Amazon sci-fi bid The Feed and Rob Lowe bull play Wild Bill.
It’s an absorbing operation of Brits and Americans, astir of whom person immoderate acquisition moving pinch streamers and galore of whom person shepherded projects successful nan sci-fi/fantasy space.
We’ve heard that nan group of writers were commissioned by Max to create pitches for a bid reflecting their return connected nan IP. Rowling was understood to beryllium progressive successful this pitching process.
RELATED: Original Dumbledore Actor’s Son Doesn’t See Need For ‘Harry Potter’ TV Reboot: “I Don’t Understand”
Framestore VFX is successful talks to recreate nan magical world it brought to life successful nan 8 movies adapted from J.K. Rowling’s 7 books. Warner Bros. Discovery is besides speaking to different companies astir ocular effects, but Framestore is successful prime position to clinch a contract, we hear. A woody is not yet done.
Costume designer Holly Waddington, who precocious won an Oscar for her activity connected Emma Stone starrer Poor Things, has been recruited for nan series, Deadline reported exclusively.
When will nan Harry Potter bid beryllium released?
HBO CEO and Chairman of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys said he foresees nan bid arriving successful precocious 2026 aliases early 2027.
“We’ve not been awkward astir our excitement astir Harry Potter,” Zaslav told Wall Street analysts connected nan company’s fourth-quarter net telephone successful 2023. “I was successful London a fewer weeks agone pinch Casey [Bloys, CEO of HBO] and Channing [Dungey, chairperson of Warner Bros Television] and we spent immoderate existent clip pinch JK and her team,” he enthused. “Both sides conscionable thrilled to beryllium reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great.”
Given the results connected that net telephone and others, WBD needs Harry Potter’s magic sooner alternatively than later.
RELATED: ‘Harry Potter’ Alum Jessie Cave On Miriam Margolyes’ Take On Adult Fans: “I Really Don’t Like That She Said That”
Ditto J.K. Rowling, whose accumulation institution posted a 74% drop successful profits successful 2022. That rebounded somewhat aft nan shape type of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child proved to beryllium a post-pandemic crowd pleaser. The writer got a $10.5 cardinal paycheck for it successful 2023.
The occurrence of nan shape show demonstrates that there’s still an appetite for Hogwarts-related content. Likewise nan monolithic deed that is Hogwarts Legacy, which became nan bestselling video crippled of 2023, moving 22 cardinal units. (That’s fantastic, but for comparison Rowling’s 7 bestselling Harry Potter books person moved 600M copies worldwide.)
At a Goldman Sachs convention successful 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made pointed retired nan request for much Hogwarts magic explicitly. Ignoring nan Harry-less Fantastic Beasts films, nan CEO insisted nan boy wizard presents a immense opportunity, claiming that nan IP has been “underused” of late.
“We haven’t done thing pinch Harry Potter for much than a decade,” he said, earlier going connected to statement that erstwhile 1 examines nan capacity of Warner Bros. complete nan past 20 years without accounting for it’s large 3 — Potter, Lord of nan Rings and DC — nan company’s capacity is “relatively flat.”
RELATED: J.K. Rowling Reveals How She Told ‘Harry Potter’ Star Alan Rickman About Character’s Big Secret
Zaslav called that type of big-ticket IP “one of nan large differentiators of this company.” And he seems to beryllium counting connected it to make a large difference.
“When you put those franchises in, it’s nan best-performing workplace successful nan world. We request to deploy our champion capital, and we request to do it pinch nan champion imaginative group successful nan world,” he said.
How to watch nan caller ‘Harry Potter’ series
It will, of course, beryllium connected Max erstwhile nan bid is ready. The work has 3 value tiers: Max Ad Light, which goes for $9.99 a period aliases $99.99 a twelvemonth and allows 2 concurrent streams; Max Ad Free will beryllium priced astatine $15.99 a month, aliases $149.99 a year, and will besides let 2 concurrent streams; and Max Ultimate Ad Free which costs $19.99 a month, aliases $199.99 a year, and allows entree to 4 concurrent streams.
In addition, WBD’s different existent epic literate adaptation, House of nan Dragon, is disposable not only connected nan company’s streaming service, but besides to cablegram subscribers connected HBO. The Potter bid will travel suit, according to execs. So if you person HBO via your cablegram provider, you’re each set.
If you’re successful Canada, WBD has struck a multi-year licensing agreement pinch Crave for nan likes of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, the DC Universe and HBO content.
Which actors are starring successful nan series? Are immoderate of nan original Harry Potter stars returning?
As mentioned supra John Lithgow will play nan beloved Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, antecedently portrayed successful nan films first by Richard Harris successful The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets films and past by Michael Gambon successful nan remainder of nan movie installments.
A whopping 32,000 young actors auditioned for nan lead roles of Harry, Hermione and Ron, Gardiner revealed astatine nan extremity of 2024.
The choices of Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Ronald Weasley arsenic nan trio were nan consequence of a circumstantial group of requirements.
“We are committed to inclusive, divers casting,” nan casting telephone noted astatine nan bottommost successful connection that has go an manufacture standard. “For each role, please taxable qualified performers, without respect to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, intersexual orientation, gender identity, aliases immoderate different ground protected by rule unless different specifically indicated.”
Warner Bros. wanted young actors, fixed that they’re proceeding done Rowling’s books successful order. “The tricky portion is nan first 2 books, wherever nan kids are connected nan younger end, astir 11 aliases 12,” said Dungey of nan casting process.
Rory Wilmot has been formed arsenic Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson arsenic Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey arsenic Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser arsenic Garrick Ollivander.
RELATED: Daniel Radcliffe Was “Terrified” Of Alan Rickman In First Three ‘Harry Potter’ Films
Tristan and Gabriel Harland will represent Fred and George Weasley. Ruari Spooner will play Percy Weasley, and Gracie Cochrane will prima arsenic Ginny Weasley.
Some large names person been in nan conversation to play awesome characters successful nan bid pinch Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and Mark Strong among names are circulating for McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid and Dumbledore. Deadline first reported that John Lithgow was nearing last talks for nan domiciled of Albus Dumbledore, nan aloof yet powerful headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lithgow confirmed nan casting to Screen Rant.
More recently, Deadline collapsed nan news that British actor-comedian Nick Frost was nearing a deal to play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. Cryptically, connected March 20 Frost posted to Instagram, “It’s happening, it’s really happening.”
Janet McTeer is in negotiations to represent Professor Minerva McGonagal, nan transfiguration coach and caput of Gryffindor location astatine Hogwarts, while Paapa Essiedu is closing nan deal to represent potions professor and Slytherin location caput Severus Snape.
RELATED: ‘Harry Potter’ Director Chris Columbus Praises HBO’s Upcoming TV Reboot: “A Spectacular Idea”
A slew of caller formed members includes Bertie Carvel who, arsenic Deadline revealed exclusively, will beryllium playing curate of magic Cornelius Fudge. Lox Pratt is slated to play Draco Malfoy, pinch Johnny Flynn arsenic his begetter Lucius Malfoy. In much family castings, Bel Powley is group arsenic Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby arsenic Vernon Dursley, Harry’s aunt and uncle. Additionally, Katherine Parkinson will play Ron’s mom, Molly Weasley. Deadline besides revealed exclusively that Bertie Carvel will beryllium playing curate of magic Cornelius Fudge.
Cast arsenic Hogwarts students are Leo Earley arsenic Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni arsenic Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah arsenic Lavender Brown.
Responses astir a imaginable return from seasoned impermanent stars successful nan bid ranged from consenting to coy.
Slow Horses prima Gary Oldman told IndieWire astatine nan reddish carpet for nan 76th Emmys that he would beryllium unfastened to returning to nan series, suggesting a portrayal of Dumbledore. The squad down nan reboot has not approached him yet pinch immoderate ideas. The character besides shared that he felt his original character, Sirius Black, was not coming successful capable of nan films.
At nan reddish carpet premiere for Season 3 of HBO’s original bid The White Lotus, prima Jason Isaacs joked that he hopes to return successful nan domiciled of Hermione Granger.
As for a return of immoderate of nan movie franchise’s stars — for illustration Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson aliases Rupert Grint — ne'er opportunity never. It would surely beryllium a PR boost for nan bid and, while caller actors will beryllium formed successful nan superior roles, location are ever flashforwards aliases nan presently en vogue multiverse crippled ploy that could create abstraction for much acquainted faces successful nan series.
But Daniel Radcliffe has said he is good pinch sitting connected nan sidelines.
“My knowing is that they’re trying to very overmuch commencement caller and I’m judge whoever is making them will want to make their ain people connected it and astir apt not want to person to fig retired really to get aged Harry to cameo successful this somewhere,” Radcliffe told ComicBook.com. “So I’m decidedly not seeking it retired successful immoderate way. But I do wish them, obviously, each nan luck successful nan world and I’m very excited to person that torch passed. But I don’t deliberation it needs maine to physically walk it.”
RELATED: HBO Circling Paapa Essiedu For Severus Snape Role In ‘Harry Potter’ TV Show
Radcliffe echoed these thoughts successful an question and reply with E! News saying he is “excited to watch arsenic an assemblage member.”
When asked if he would beryllium successful it, he said “I don’t deliberation so, I deliberation they very wisely want to [have] a cleanable break.”
Another longtime Potter subordinate who apt won’t beryllium progressive is David Yates, who directed nan past 4 movies, Harry Potter and nan Order of nan Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and nan Half-Blood Prince (2009) and Deathly Hallows Part One and Two (2010 and 2011). In addition, Yates took connected the Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts trilogy. He says location has been nary speech astir his engagement pinch nan series. And it sounds for illustration he’s good pinch that.
“Huge affection and a beautiful group of group I worked with,” Yates told Deadline. “But we haven’t had a speech since we vanished it.”
“It’s been astir ‘Let’s conscionable parkland it, and beryllium done for a while,'” he said of nan Potter franchise.
“Never opportunity never, I would say, but I’m excited astir moving on,” he said.
Is J.K. Rowling progressive successful nan caller Harry Potter TV series?
Yes. A woody for J.K. Rowling’s engagement successful nan bid had been nan biggest hurdle successful its way to nan screen: The writer has imaginative power complete immoderate exploitation of her work. That statement was finalized successful 2023.
Rowling and longtime confederates Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are exec producing, truthful she is expected to beryllium progressive successful nan decision-making connected nan series. David Heyman, who developed nan films, was talks to do nan same. Rowling’s Brontë Film and TV is producing pinch Warner Bros. Television. Brontë Film and TV was founded by Rowling and her literate agent, Neil Blair, successful 2012.
“Max’s committedness to preserving nan integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking guardant to being portion of this caller adjustment which will let for a grade of extent and item only afforded by a agelong shape tv series,” said Rowling successful a statement.
When asked by a instrumentality if she’s penning nan series, Rowling replied, “No, but I’ve worked intimately pinch nan highly talented writers.”
RELATED: ‘Harry Potter’ Star Ralph Fiennes Says He “Would Be All In Favor” Of Cillian Murphy To Take Over Voldemort Role In HBO Series
Since Warners launched its streaming service, there’s ever been a extremity to utilization Warners’ biggest franchise for streaming. Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav, taking nan reigns aft nan merger past year, met pinch Rowling respective times successful nan UK. He’s moreover spoken up successful support of nan author, who has been progressive successful an ongoing contention complete her comments connected transgender issues. Asked astir nan streaming arena astir those controversies, Bloys demurred.
“No, I don’t deliberation this is nan forum [to talk that],” he said. “That’s a very online conversation, very nuanced and analyzable and not thing we’re going to get into.”
“Our privilege is what’s connected nan screen,” Bloys continued. “Obviously, nan Harry Potter communicative is incredibly affirmative and affirmative and astir emotion and self-acceptance. That’s our privilege — what’s connected screen.”
As for really adjacent nan writer will beryllium to nan series, Bloys said, “[Rowling] will beryllium involved. She’s an executive shaper connected nan show. Her insights are going to beryllium adjuvant connected that.”
Rowling has said she approves of nan scripts she’s seen.
“I publication nan first 2 episodes of nan forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!” she wrote on X.
The author’s engagement could beryllium a hurdle to having nan principals from nan films progressive successful nan series. Relations betwixt Rowling, Radcliffe and Emma Watson can’t beryllium great, fixed nan writer precocious said she was “bloody angry” complete stances taken by trans authorities activists, which she sees being successful guidance to women’s rights.
Rowling claimed that “thousands are complicit, not conscionable medics, but nan personage mouthpieces, unquestioning media and cynical corporations.” Asked specifically whether she would forgive Radcliffe and Watson for their unabashed pro-trans authorities stance connected nan rumor Rowling replied, “Celebs who cosied up to a activity intent connected eroding women’s hard-won authorities and who utilized their platforms to cheer connected nan transitioning of minors tin prevention their apologies.”
Bloys was clear, however, that WBD wasn’t wholly limited connected Rowling for nan project.
“The TV show is caller and we’re excited astir that. But, remember, we’ve been successful nan Potter business for 20 years. This is not a caller determination for us, we’re very comfortable being successful nan Potter business.”
RELATED: ‘Harry Potter’ Series To Begin Shooting Over The Summer At Leavesden; Showrunner Reveals 32,000 Kids Auditioned For Lead Roles
At his astir caller quality speaking connected nan show, Bloys said “we are wholly comfortable with” moving alongside nan writer of nan root material. He pointed retired that nan institution had “huge success” pinch past year’s Hogwarts video game.
He said he would alternatively “do what nan creatives want to do” than “listen to instrumentality conversation.”
How overmuch will nan Harry Potter TV bid costs to produce?
“You cognize we make shows astatine this standard pinch House of nan Dragon, Game of Thrones,” said Bloys. “I ideate will beryllium that standard aliases higher. The shorter reply is immoderate it takes to make a value show.”
Per Deadline reporting, House of nan Dragon costs astir $200 million and was nan taxable of HBO’s biggest trading run ever, weighted astatine complete $100M successful media walk (that’s a combo of advertisement spot worth and difficult rate shelled out). So fans tin expect a akin outlay for nan Potter bid “or higher,” according to HBO/Max leader Bloys.
Will location beryllium different Harry Potter-related projects?
“We’re free to do thing we want,” Zaslav has said, earlier hedging a bit. “Some areas we request to do pinch J.K., different areas we person nan afloat expertise to spell forward. This is simply a afloat deployment connected Max of Harry Potter. We tin still create different properties.”
It’s unclear wherever those boundaries lie, but it is clear that Warner Bros. Discovery would for illustration much Potter. Since he took power of nan merged company, Zaslav has stressed aggregate times his attraction connected franchises, pinch mining the Harry Potter IP identified arsenic a apical priority.
Deadline understands that location whitethorn besides beryllium an opportunity for much than 1 of nan above-mentioned writers to beryllium progressive and that Max is unfastened to nan anticipation of processing much than 1 thought based on Harry Potter.
One specified effort, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking has already been a ratings success, proving yet again location is still an appetite for nan IP.
How agelong has this been successful nan works?
Max and its then-parent institution WarnerMedia started exploring a potential Harry Potter TV bid a mates of years ago. At nan time, Warner Bros. appointed Kids, Young Adult and Classics president Tom Ascheim to negociate nan Wizarding World and Potter franchises, which see taxable 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 elder rep successful its narration pinch Rowling and her representatives, and exploratory conversations for a Max bid sewage underway.
After nan Discovery acquisition was completed a twelvemonth ago, that portion was disbanded and Ascheim exited nan company. However, nan value of the Harry Potter IP has only grown post-merger.
Zaslav said astir his family’s ain individual connection to nan series.
“My woman and I, we publication (the Harry Potter books) to each of our 3 kids,” said Zaslav, going disconnected book astatine nan Max announcement. “It’s really moving, for 10 consecutive years, group will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean it’s really something.”
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