Here's all we know about the new Harry Potter TV series on Max

In mid-April this year, unexpected information appeared about plans to film a show in the Harry Potter universe. Warner Bros. Discovery wants to return to its roots, and President David Zaslav stated that the franchise isn't being exploited enough in relation to the potential it holds. We checked if there have been any new updates since the first announcement, revealing more about the series.

What will the new Harry Potter series be about?

The theme of the show is known from the get go. Plans are underway for a new adaptation of the seven-part saga, whose main character will be again Harry Potter. In total, we will get seven seasons, each comprising a whole year spent at Hogwarts by the young wizard. On the one hand, such an approach may seem exaggerated, because the movies were divided in exactly the same way. On the other hand, it's a chance to flesh out more plot details and give more exposition to some characters, both of which couldn't be done in the movie format. In addition, it's an opportunity to have another generation of kids grow up with Harry.

Will the old Harry Potter cast return in the show?

So far, none of the actors, including Daniel Radcliffe, have announced their return. The former Harry Potter protagonist expressed his excitement at the chance to see a new interpretation of the books and said that his appearance on screen could be rather baffling. According to the actor, the series will be a good tool to appease fans dissatisfied with the movies, as certain threads were entirely omitted there.

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Some actors may feel awkward about returning to the set due to controversies associated with JK Rowling. In recent years, there has been a great polarization between her and part of the fandom resultant of the author's statements. Participation in the series could be seen as taking a side, which not every artist may want to undertake.

At the same time, the series faces another major challenge, i.e. replacing some of the most recognizable actors who are sadly no longer alive. This includes the one and only Alan Rickaman (as Severus Snape), and the one and only Robbie Coltrane (as Rubeus Hagrid). They both were true icons of the IP, whose acting still impresses today, making their replacement an exceptionally difficult task.

Is JK Rowling still involved in the Harry Potter series?

HBO does cooperate with the author of Harry Potter. Just like with movies, so now JK Rowling will be very active and will certainly provide many tips on what the scenery, costumes and characters should be like. The writer allegedly stated that HBO wants to maintain the consistency of the series with the original books and that this is also an opportunity for Rowling to present the story on a larger scale and in more detail due to a more extensive format.

When will the Harry Potter series premiere on MAX?

The date remains one of the mysteries for now. It's worth reminding that right after the production announcement, the screenwriters' strike began in Holywood, followed by the actors' strike, effectively stopping all works related to the series. In both cases, an agreement was reached with the studios, so it can be assumed that work on the new Harry Potter is already underway. Due to such a significant delay, we can assume that the most likely release date will be the turn of 2025 and 2026.