There will be another season of HBO Max‘s Harry Potter TV series.
The new Harry, Ron and Hermione have received their Hogwarts admission letters, as have the newest additions — four out of Ron’s six siblings. Since those magical owl deliveries, the Ginny Weasley role will be recast for Season 2 due to Gracie Cochrane’s departure from the series “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
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Dominic McLaughlin will portray The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter himself. Alastair Stout will play Harry’s best friend Ronald Weasley, and Arabella Stanton will round out the classic trio of heroes as bookworm Hermione Granger, who matches the courage of the previous two Gryffindors.
Four months after Deadline revealed that Francesca Gardiner was one of three finalists to win the prize to reboot the classic kids franchise for the small screen, the Succession consulting producer for Seasons 3 and 4 won the showrunner gig. Gardiner beat Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan to win the job. Mark Mylod, who worked with Gardiner on Succession will direct multiple episodes of the series in addition to executive producing.
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Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films in the franchsie adapted from J.K. Rowlings best-selling books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, approves of HBO’s television reboot, calling it a “spectacular idea.”
At its Max streaming event in April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed a new era is coming for Harry Potter fans. The company announced a TV series based on all seven books about the boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling. On June 25, it was revealed that the series is moving to HBO in a rethink of WBD’s big-budget streaming strategy.
See below for the most current answers to the most important questions about the project.
Is there a trailer for the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’-based Season 1 of the Harry Potter TV show?
Yes, the first teaser trailer was released March 25.
What is the Harry Potter TV series about?
“This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content about the project, which he also assured fans would be “a faithful adaptation.”
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Early reports had each season of the series focusing on one book in the Harry Potter book series, which consists of seven novels, but Bloys said the project would run for “10 consecutive years,” which would seem to defy the 1 season, 1 book assertion. For those who say Fantastic Beasts could be leveraged to provide 10 seasons over 10 years, WBD brass said specifically during the announcement that FB will not be a part of the series.
Whatever the case, Bloys promised that, as the company embarks on its new Harry Potter adventure, “We do so with the full care and craft of this franchise.”
Will there be more seasons of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV show?
Yes, HBO has renewed the series for a second season, elevating Jon Brown from writer on Season 1 to co-showrunner for Season 2 with Francesca Gardiner.
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Deadline broke the news that Nicholas Hoult will portray Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Season 2 of the series. Kennth Branagh originated the somewhat aloof professor, who steps into the role after Professor Quirrell was revealed to be hosting the feeble Lord Voldemort on the back of his bald head. Little does Lockhart know what he’s getting into.
Has HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV series started production?
Yes, cameras began rolling as of July 14, 2025. HBO had confirmed that the show would start shooting in the summer of 2025 at Leavesden. The April 2025 casting timeline supported this as well. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and EP Mark Mylod made a surprise appearance at the Max Showcase in London to reveal the big step in production.
Who is creating the Harry Potter series?
Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod have signed up as its writer and director, respectively. Gardiner will serve as showrunner and executive producer, and Mylod will direct multiple episodes in addition to serving as executive producer.
Holly Waddington, who won an Oscar in her craft for Poor Things, serves as costume designer, Deadline reported exclusively. Killing Eve scribe Laura Neal has joined the writers room. Deadline exclusively profiled showrunner Francesca Gardiner with insight from her colleagues.
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Rowling was understood to be involved in this pitching process when the group of writing candidates pitched their takes on the IP.
Framestore VFX is in talks to recreate the magical world it brought to life in the eight movies adapted from J.K. Rowling’s seven books. Warner Bros. Discovery is also speaking to other companies about visual effects, but Framestore is in prime position to clinch a contract, we hear. A deal is not yet done.
When will the Harry Potter series be released?
Season 1, based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will release Christmas 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.
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At a Goldman Sachs conference in 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav pointed out the need for more Hogwarts magic explicitly. Ignoring the Harry-less Fantastic Beasts films, the CEO insisted the boy wizard presents a huge opportunity, claiming that the IP has been “underused” of late.
“We haven’t done anything with Harry Potter for more than a decade,” he said, before going on to note that when one examines the performance of Warner Bros. over the last 20 years without accounting for it’s big three — Potter, Lord of the Rings and DC — the company’s performance is “relatively flat.”
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Zaslav called that type of big-ticket IP “one of the big differentiators of this company.” And he seems to be counting on it to make a big difference.
“When you put those franchises in, it’s the best-performing studio in the world. We need to deploy our best capital, and we need to do it with the best creative people in the world,” he said.
How to watch the new ‘Harry Potter’ series
It will, of course, be on Max once the series is ready. The service has three price tiers: Basic with Ads, which goes for $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year; Standard will be priced at $18.49 a month, or $184.99 a year, and will allow two concurrent streams; and Premoum which costs $22.99 a month, or $229.99 a year, and allows access to four concurrent streams.
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In addition, WBD’s other current epic literary adaptation, House of the Dragon, is available not only on the company’s streaming service, but also to cable subscribers on HBO. The Potter series will follow suit, according to execs. So if you have HBO via your cable provider, you’re all set.
If you’re in Canada, WBD has struck a multi-year licensing agreement with Crave for the likes of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, the DC Universe and HBO content.
Which actors are starring in the series? Are any of the original Harry Potter stars returning?
John Lithgow will play the beloved Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, previously portrayed in the films first by Richard Harris in The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets films and then by Michael Gambon in the rest of the movie installments.
A whopping 32,000 young actors auditioned for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione and Ron, Gardiner revealed at the end of 2024.
The choices of Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Ronald Weasley as the trio were the result of a specific set of requirements.
“We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting,” the casting call noted at the bottom in language that has become an industry standard. “For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”
Warner Bros. wanted young actors, given that they’re proceeding through Rowling’s books in order. “The tricky part is the first two books, where the kids are on the younger end, around 11 or 12,” said Warner Bros. TV Group Chairman Channing Dungey of the casting process.
Rory Wilmot has been cast as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander.
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Tristan and Gabriel Harland will portray Fred and George Weasley. Ruari Spooner will play Percy Weasley, and Gracie Cochrane will star as Ginny Weasley in Season 1. Cochrane will not reappear as the youngest Weasley sibling from Season 2 onwards.
Some big names were in the conversation earlier on to play major characters in the series with Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and Mark Strong among names that were circulating for McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid and Dumbledore. Deadline first reported that John Lithgow was nearing final talks for the role of Albus Dumbledore, the aloof yet powerful headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lithgow confirmed the casting to Screen Rant.
More recently, Deadline broke the news that British actor-comedian Nick Frost was nearing a deal to play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid. Cryptically, on March 20 Frost posted to Instagram, “It’s happening, it’s actually happening.”
Janet McTeer will portray Professor Minerva McGonagal, the transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house at Hogwarts, while Paapa Essiedu will portray potions professor and Slytherin house head, Severus Snape.
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A slew of new cast members includes Bertie Carvel who, as Deadline revealed exclusively, will be playing minister of magic Cornelius Fudge. Lox Pratt (Netflix’s Lord of the Flies) is slated to play Draco Malfoy, with Johnny Flynn as his father Lucius Malfoy. In more family castings, Bel Powley is set as Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Harry’s aunt and uncle. Additionally, Katherine Parkinson will play Ron’s mom, Molly Weasley.
Cast as Hogwarts students are Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown.
Responses about a potential return from veteran guest stars in the series ranged from willing to coy.
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Slow Horses star Gary Oldman told IndieWire at the red carpet for the 76th Emmys that he would be open to returning to the series, suggesting a portrayal of Dumbledore. The team behind the reboot has not approached him yet with any ideas. The actor also shared that he felt his original character, Sirius Black, was not present in enough of the films.
At the red carpet premiere for Season 3 of HBO’s original series The White Lotus, star Jason Isaacs joked that he hopes to return in the role of Hermione Granger.
As for a return of any of the film franchise’s stars — like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint — never say never. It would certainly be a PR boost for the series and, while new actors have been cast in the primary roles, there are always flashforwards or the currently en vogue multiverse plot ploy that could create space for more familiar faces in the series.
But Daniel Radcliffe has said he is fine with sitting on the sidelines.
“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,” Radcliffe told ComicBook.com. “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.”
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Radcliffe echoed these thoughts in an interview with E! News saying he is “excited to watch as an audience member.”
When asked if he would be in it, he said “I don’t think so, I think they very wisely want to [have] a clean break.”
Another longtime Potter player who likely won’t be involved is David Yates, who directed the last four movies, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) and Deathly Hallows Part One and Two (2010 and 2011). In addition, Yates took on the Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts trilogy. He says there has been no conversation about his involvement with the series, and it sounds like he’s ok with that.
“Huge affection and a lovely group of people I worked with,” Yates told Deadline. “But we haven’t had a conversation since we finished it.”
“It’s been about ‘Let’s just park it, and be done for a while,’” he said of the Potter franchise.
“Never say never, I would say, but I’m excited about moving on,” he said.
Is J.K. Rowling involved in the new Harry Potter TV series?
Yes. A deal for J.K. Rowling’s involvement in the series had been the biggest hurdle in its path to the screen: The author has creative control over any interpretation of her work. That agreement was finalized in 2023.
Rowling and longtime collaborators Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are exec producing, so she is expected to be involved in the decision-making on the series. David Heyman, who developed the films, was in talks to do the same. Rowling’s Brontë Film and TV is producing with Warner Bros. Television. Brontë Film and TV was founded by Rowling and her literary agent, Neil Blair, in 2012.
“Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series,” said Rowling in a statement.
When asked by a fan if she’s writing the series, Rowling replied, “No, but I’ve worked closely with the extremely talented writers.”
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Since Warners launched its streaming service, there’s always been a goal to reinterpret Warners’ biggest franchise for streaming. Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav, taking the reigns after the merger last year, met with Rowling several times in the UK. He’s even spoken up in support of the author, who has been involved in an ongoing controversy over her comments on transgender issues. Asked about the streaming event about those controversies, Bloys demurred.
“No, I don’t think this is the forum [to discuss that],” he said. “That’s a very online conversation, very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into.”
“Our priority is what’s on the screen,” Bloys continued. “Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That’s our priority — what’s on screen.”
As for how close the author will be to the series, Bloys said, “[Rowling] will be involved. She’s an executive producer on the show. Her insights are going to be helpful on that.”
Rowling has said she approves of the scripts she’s seen.
“I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!” she wrote on X.
The author’s involvement could prove a hurdle to having the principals from the films involved in the series. Relations between Rowling, Radcliffe and Emma Watson can’t be great, given the author recently said she was “bloody angry” over stances taken by trans rights activists, which she sees being in opposition to women’s rights.
Rowling claimed that “thousands are complicit, not just medics, but the celebrity mouthpieces, unquestioning media and cynical corporations.” Asked specifically whether she would forgive Radcliffe and Watson for their unabashed pro-trans rights stance on the issue Rowling replied, “Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies.”
Bloys was clear, however, that WBD wasn’t entirely dependent on Rowling for the project.
“The TV show is new and we’re excited about that. But, remember, we’ve been in the Potter business for 20 years. This is not a new decision for us, we’re very comfortable being in the Potter business.”
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At his most recent appearance speaking on the show, Bloys said “we are totally comfortable with” working alongside the author of the source material. He pointed out that the company had “huge success” with last year’s Hogwarts video game.
He said he would rather “do what the creatives want to do” than “listen to fan conversation.”
How much will the Harry Potter TV series cost to produce?
“You know we make shows at this scale with House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones,” said Bloys. “I imagine will be that scale or higher. The shorter answer is whatever it takes to make a quality show.”
Per Deadline reporting, House of the Dragon cost nearly $200 million and was the subject of HBO’s biggest marketing campaign ever, valued at over $100M in media spend (that’s a combo of ad spot value and hard cash shelled out). So fans can expect a similar outlay for the Potter series “or higher,” according to HBO/Max boss Bloys.
Will there be other Harry Potter-related projects?
“We’re free to do anything we want,” Zaslav has said, before hedging a bit. “Some areas we need to do with J.K., other areas we have the full ability to go forward. This is a full deployment on Max of Harry Potter. We can still develop other properties.”
It’s unclear where those boundaries lie, but it is clear that Warner Bros. Discovery would like more Potter. Since he took control of the merged company, Zaslav has stressed multiple times his focus on franchises, with mining the Harry Potter IP identified as a top priority.
Deadline understands that there may also be an opportunity for more than one of the above-mentioned writers to be involved and that Max is open to the possibility of developing more than one idea based on Harry Potter.
One such effort, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking has already been a ratings success, proving yet again there is still an appetite for the IP.
How long has this been in the works?
Max and its then-parent company WarnerMedia started exploring a potential Harry Potter TV series a couple of years ago. At the time, Warner Bros. appointed Kids, Young Adult and Classics president Tom Ascheim to manage the Wizarding World and Potter franchises, which include theme 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 senior rep in its relationship with Rowling and her representatives, and exploratory conversations for a Max series got underway.
After the Discovery acquisition was completed a year ago, that unit was disbanded and Ascheim exited the company. However, the importance of the Harry Potter IP has only grown post-merger.
Zaslav spoke about his family’s own personal connection to the series.
“My wife and I, we read (the Harry Potter books) to each of our three kids,” said Zaslav, going off script at the Max announcement. “It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean it’s really something.”
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