What we know about the Harry Potter TV show

Dust off your spell books and iron your cloak because Harry Potter is officially heading back to school in a brand new TV series coming to HBO — with stars including Mark Rylance and Paapa Essiedu reportedly being lined up to join the cast.

Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that the boy wizard’s adventures in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have been brought to life on screen. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson first introduced audiences to this vivid fantasy world as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the hugely popular feature film franchise which ran from 2001 to 2011.

Now, with hit reboot shows and movies like Wednesday, Scream, Willow and Grease: The Rise of the Pink Ladies rising in popularity, a new generation of audiences have revealed themselves as ready to explore a new take on this classic wizarding story.

When will the Harry Potter TV series be released?

A launch date for the Harry Potter TV series is not yet known, although filming is due to begin in summer 2025 at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden. HBO boss Casey Bloys has said it could arrive in early 2027 but added: “Don’t hold me to any of that.”

The show was set to debut on Warner Bros. Discovery’s new Max streaming platform, but it will instead be released as an HBO Originals title.

Succession writer Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner and executive producer, while The Menu director Mark Mylod is also on board as executive producer, and will direct multiple episodes.

According to Warner Bros Discovery, the series will be made over the course of a decade, with each series focusing on a different instalment in Rowling’s seven-book story.

The show will be led by an entirely new cast that promises to reintroduce Potter’s battle with the evil Voldemort to a whole new generation of pop-culture fans. However, fans can expect the same level of detail, amazing locations and respect for the source material that the film adaptations achieved so well.

Who might star in the Harry Potter TV show?

At the time of writing, no one has been cast in the new Harry Potter project. But according to the latest press release, it will feature an “all-new” array of faces.

In September 2024, details of an open casting call for the parts of Harry, Ron and Hermione made its way online, with the advert seeking “children who are aged 9-11” from the UK and Ireland and “committed to inclusive, diverse casting".

Wolf Hall star Mark Rylance is reportedly “at the top of the casting wishlist” to play Dumbledore, but negotiations with the actor have yet to begin, according to Variety. Paapa Essiedu, best known for his role in I May Destroy You, has been linked to the the role of Professor Severus Snape.

An HBO spokesperson said: “We appreciate that such a high profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalise deals.”

A lack of old-guard stars featuring in HBO’s new adaptation doesn’t come as that much of a surprise. Many of the original cast of the Harry Potter movies have publicly distanced themselves from JK Rowling following her transgender row.

Radcliffe has spoken out several times to apologise to anyone offended by her comments and whose love of of the books may have been “tarnished” as a result. Other Harry Potter stars including Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have spoken out against Rowling’s views on trans issues.

Radcliffe told ComicBook.com that he would not appear in the show, saying: “My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh, and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere.

“So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

Radcliffe has also said he would not be interested in reprising his role as a grown-up Harry Potter in the Cursed Child, but he hasn’t ruled out being part of another Potter project altogether.

Grint has said he is open to the idea of a Harry Potter TV show, but wouldn’t want to play Ron Weasley himself. Tom Felton, who played Harry’s nemesis Draco Malfoy, also does not seem keen on the idea of reprising his role.

Ralph Fiennes has said he is would “of course” be up for returning as Lord Voldemort, but he also gave his approval to the possibility of Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy taking on the role.

Meanwhile, Ginny Weasley actress Bonnie Wright said she hopes her character is tackled with more nuance in the TV show. When asked by Variety about what she’d like to see, Wright said: “So many things. More of the development of the relationship between Ginny and Harry.”

How have Harry Potter fans reacted?

Some Harry Potter fans have not reacted well to the idea of a TV spin-off as they have still not forgiven Rowling over her comments about transgender women.

The writer was “cancelled” after she voiced her stance on protecting sex-based rights for women and was hit by claims she “ruined her legacy” by expressing her views on trans rights. Initial reports of a TV spin-off prompted some to declare they would boycott the show to prevent Rowling from benefiting from any royalties.

HBO boss Bloys said in November 2024: “She was very involved in the process of selecting the writer and director, and I imagine she’ll have opinions on casting. It hasn’t affected the casting or hiring of writers and production staff. So we haven’t felt an impact from that.”

An HBO spokesperson added: “JK 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.”

Where in the Harry Potter timeline will the show be set?

Despite having a wealth of material to pull from — ranging from Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts spin-off stories, Jack Thorne’s Cursed Child stage show and any number of characters that could front their own outing — Warner Bros Discovery’s new show will keep things simple by retelling Harry Potter’s core adventures.

This means that we’ll once again be reintroduced to the eponymous “boy who lived”. We’ll follow him from this time as an orphan living in a tiny room under his cruel auntie and uncle’s staircase to discovering he’s actually a wizard and the only one who can defeat the tyrannical and deadly Voldermort.

It also means we’ll get to relive his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry all over again and meet the colourful characters lurking within — from eccentric teachers to Potter’s trusted school friends and all the magical beings lurking in between.

The Harry Potter TV series is in development at HBO