HBO'sHarry PotterTV Series: What We Know About the New Adaptation (and Which Actor Says He Won't Be Making a Return — for Now)

Mar. 15, 2025

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.Photo:Alamy

Alamy

After seven books, eight movies, one play and a whole spin-off series,Harry Potteris debuting on the small screen for the first time.

Warner Bros. Discovery first announced its plans for anewHarry Potterseriesin April 2023, withBloombergreporting that each season would be based on a single book, starting withHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneand ending withHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

“We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys said in apress release.

A year later,Daniel Radcliffe, who originated the titular role, shared that while hewouldn’t be participating in the series, he was just as excited as fans for the new adaptation. However, he added that he didn’t have plans to appear in it.

“Like the rest of the world, [I’m] very excited to watch as an audience member,” Radcliffe toldE!in May 2024. “I don’t know if it would work to have us do anything in it.”

Just a month later, authorJ.K. Rowlingshared that she hadread the pilot scriptand was pleased with the direction of the show while announcing Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod as executive producers, with the former also working as a writer and the latter as a director of multiple episodes.

From the plot to the latest cast news, here’s everything to know about the newHarry Potterseries.

What will theHarry Potterseries be about?

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.Peter Mountain/Warner Bros.

The release adds that “each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”

Will J. K. Rowling be involved in theHarry Potterseries?

J.K. Rowling.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

A year later, Rowling shared her reaction to the picks for writer and director of the show.

Who is writing and directing theHarry Potterseries?

Francesca Gardiner at the 2024 post-Emmy Reception on January 15, 2024 in West Hollywood ; Mark Mylod at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles.Amy Sussman/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty

After their hiring was announced, Rowling shared she “interviewed” both Gardiner and Mylod and was “thrilled to announce [them] as our director and writer.”

Will the originalHarry Pottercast members appear on the series?

Warner Bros,; HBO Max

It’s unlikely that any of the originalHarry Potterstars will return for the new series, as Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that it “will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom.” After the show was first announced, Radcliffe toldComicBook.comin June 2023 that he hadno plans to participate.

“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,” he said.

As for whether he would want to come back if he were asked, the Tony Award-winning actor said, “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,” he added. “But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

However, she was more open to reprising Ginny. “Never say never, never say no,” she told PEOPLE. “I would be [open], I’m ready.”

Who is in the new cast of theHarry Potterseries?

ohn Lithgow attends The Old Man" Season 1 NYC Tastemaker Event at MOMA on June 14, 2022 in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

While an official cast list has yet to be announced, fans have started casting their dream stars into roles — including Irish actorCillian Murphyin the role of Voldemort, the villain in the stories.

EvenRalph Fiennes, who famously played the character in the original movies,gave his stamp of approval, sharing onWatch What Happens Livein December 2024 that he thought “Cillian is a fantastic actor."

“That’s a wonderful suggestion," he added. “I would be all in favor of Cillian. Yeah.”

Chris Columbus, who directed two of the movies, echoed Fiennes' sentiment weeks later, telling PEOPLE thatcasting Murphy would be “amazing.”

One character whose casting made headlines in February 2025 is headmaster Albus Dumbledore. After weeks of speculation,John LithgowtoldScreenRantthat he was asked to play the iconic mentor which “came as a total surprise.”

“I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I’m afraid,” Lithgow said.

While he said he did say yes, HBO could not confirm whether he’s been cast in the role as the deal had not been closed yet.

Meanwhile, there has been no word yet on who will play the golden trio: Harry, Ron and Hermione. In September 2024, anopen casting call posterwent up seeking children aged between 9 and 11 and based in the U.K. and Ireland to fill the roles.

Where can you watch theHarry Potterseries?

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.Alamy

Despite earlier announcements that the show would be a Max original, it was reported in June 2024 that the series will now air on HBO. ThoughDeadlinereportsthat like all HBO originals, the series will likely be available to stream on Max.

How many seasons will theHarry Potterseries include?

courtesy Everett Collection

The official press release from Warner Bros. Discovery confirms that the new show would be “a decade-long series,” however, it’s unclear just how many seasons that will entail.

Bloys noted that it would be up to the showrunner how to split up the seven books, but the first season would mostly revolve aroundHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, while potentially including bits from other books.

When will theHarry Potterseries be released?

Though Warner Bros. Discovery didn’t confirm a release date,Varietyreported in February 2024 that the series would air in 2026, with filming taking place in 2025.

source: people.com