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 Warner Bros' new Max streaming platform.
Earlier this year, rumours began to swirl about a new small-screen reimagining of author JK Rowling’s hugely popular boy wizard stories.
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.
Read more here: Harry Potter series a go with J.K. Rowling executive producing, set for 10-Year run(Deadline, 2 min read)
What do we already know about the Harry Potter TV series?
Rumours for the show first emerged way back in January 2021 but beyond a few unconfirmed details, little was known other than writers had been approached with the idea.
Thankfully, all that changed in early April 2023 when Warner Bros Discovery officially confirmed the show as part of the launch of its new Max streaming platform.
As a result, we now know that the upcoming Harry Potter TV show will be a faithful retelling of the entirety of Rowling’s seven-book story, with the author also acting as an executive producer on the series.
According to a Warner Bros Discovery press release, 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.
A launch date for the Harry Potter TV series is not yet known but once ready, it will launch on Warner Bros. Discovery’s new ‘Max’ streaming platform.
Read more here: Harry Potter TV series in early development (Variety, 2 min read)
How have 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.
Watch: Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe stands with the trans community
Initial reports of a TV spin-off prompted some to declare they would boycott the show to prevent Rowling from benefiting from any royalties.
Read more here: What JK Rowling’s could mean for the Harry Potter franchise (Variety, 13 min read)
Where in the Harry Potter timeline will the show bet set?
Despite having a wealth of material to pull from — ranging from Rowling's Fantastic Beasts spin-off stories, Jack Thorne's Cursed Child Broadway 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.
Read more here: Harry Potter director Chris Columbus would return for Cursed Child film with original cast (People, 3 min read)
Who might star?
As it stands, the cast for the new 'Max' Harry Potter TV series is currently unknown but according to the latest press release, it will feature an 'all new' array of faces.
This isn't 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 ben "tarnished" as a result.
The actor has also weighed in on whether he would return to the franchise, and has said in an interview with ComicBook.com that he prefers not to.
He said: “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.”
“I’m very excited to have that torch passed, but I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it,” Radcliffe added.
Other Harry Potter stars including Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have spoken out against Rowling's views on trans issues.
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.
Read more here: Daniel Radcliffe revealed there are two other Harry Potter characters he'd want to play in a reboot (Insider, 1 min read)
Meanwhile, many of the feature film series' cast seem to have differing views on returning. Tom Felton, who played Harry's nemesis Draco Malfoy, does not seem keen on the idea of reprising his role.
Rupert Grint is open to the idea of a Harry Potter TV show, but wouldn't want to play Ron Weasley himself.
But Ralph Fiennes has said he is absolutely up for returning as Lord Voldemort .
Read more here: Everything the Harry Potter cast has said about a potential reboot (Us Weekly, 2 min read)
