the HBO series – release date, casting, plot… everything you need to know (complete guide 2026)

The television event of the year 2027 already has a name: Harry Potter. 25 years after Chris Columbus’ first film, Warner Bros. and HBO are putting their title back on the line with a new adaptation of JK Rowling’s novels. This time, the seven books will be adapted to serial format to allow a more faithful transcription of the British author’s imagination. The project is part of a desire for Warner Bros to take advantage of its strongest intellectual properties. It goes without saying that the wizarding world holds an important place in the giant’s list of priorities. The Harry Potter universe has already had its spin-off in the cinema but the result did not really live up to expectations. This time must be the right one.

When is the Harry Potter series release date?

If fans are already impatient – ​​or dreading this new proposal from Warner – we will have to wait a little before discovering these new adventures in the world of wizards. The project is currently filming. HBO has nevertheless already given some details regarding the release date of this first season. The appointment is set for the start of 2027. With such a schedule, the teams only have a few months left to refine their copy.

Some of the work was chewed up, since it should be about taking advantage of the huge sets already used for the films. We can therefore expect that some of the filming will take place in Leavesden, where the Making of Harry Potter studios are currently located. However, the creators also promised that their series would deviate from the imagery of the films to better reinvent the wizarding world. In particular, they must involve real and completely new settings. Nothing too rocket science, since the directors who succeeded each other in directing had already managed to bring out very different aesthetics within the same saga.

An adaptation faithful to the books?

As mentioned above, HBO Max wants to take advantage of the serial format to explore the gray areas of the cinematographic saga. Creator Francesca Gardiner has promised to adapt story arcs left behind for cinema. From the first season, notable changes are to be expected. Readers will, for example, be able to discover Peeves in the flesh, the poltergeist not having been invited to take part in Chris Columbus’ films.

Images stolen from around the filming locations also suggest that the night of the death of Harry’s parents will occupy a more important place than in the novel or the saga. It will involve going to Godrick’s Hollow to witness the arrival of Voldemort. Moreover, the format in several episodes will stretch the time to immortalize the school year in a more tangible way and therefore give spectators the impression that they are following the adventures of the little wizard almost in real time.

10 years of magic guaranteed

When Warner Bros decides to bring back a license as popular asHarry Potterthe firm takes very little risk. Twenty-two years later The School of Sorcererspublic interest is still there. The channel therefore has confidence in its new project and does not hesitate to announce ten consecutive years of exploring Hogwarts and fighting against the forces of evil.

While it was rumored that each season would be inspired by a work, the platform seems to have the idea of ​​making the journey last a little longer. This will allow the series to grow with its viewers, whether they are readers of the novels or not. HBO undoubtedly hopes to attract many fans, those who did not grow up with the cinematic saga. With the magical world of JK Rowling as a backdrop – and her reputation as a main argument for connoisseurs – the streaming service wants to create an event. It will surely be about winning the title of series of the decade, as the adaptation of George RR Martin’s novels was able to do in its time.

Who is directing and casting?

You are JK Rowling had very little impact on the development of the game Hogwarts Legacyshe makes a point of staying close to all adaptation projects. Unsurprisingly, the series Harry Potter is no exception. The author will thus act as delegate producer. According to recent information shared by the head of Warner Bros. Discovery studios, she will not influence the writing. While she acted as screenwriter on Fantastic BeastsRowling will this time only be entitled to a consulting role.

After meeting numerous creatives, who came to present their vision for this new adaptation, HBO set its sights on a showrunner and a director. Francesca Gardiner, who worked on His Dark Materials et Successionwill have the difficult task of leading the adaptation of the seven volumes of the saga, of guiding the screenwriters so that they can grasp all the twists and turns and elements which constitute the seven years of schooling of Harry Ron and Hermione. Behind the camera, Mark Mylod will direct several episodes. The director has already worked numerous times with HBO, on The Last of Us et Game of Thrones to name just a few. He therefore has a certain mastery of large-scale productions.

Who is in the casting?

When the rumor of a return of the saga Harry Potter was circulating, some of the actors had half-heartedly admitted to being ready to return. However, il They needed the right project to agree to put on their wizard robes again. With this new series that looks like rebootit seems quite unlikely that they will make an appearance. Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe et Rupert Grint will not return to the shoes of the legendary trio, young actors will take over.

It is at Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout et Arabella Stanton that the responsibility for carrying this reboot has been entrusted. McLaughlin, who will therefore wear the wizard’s little glasses, is not signing his first role here. He has already played Nick Frost in the upcoming film Grow. A boon for HBO which will have the opportunity to bring together the two actors since Simon Pegg’s friend plays Hagrid in the series.

For his part, Alastair Stout takes his first steps on the small screen. Like Watson and Grint in the early 2000s, he is a young shoot in the industry. The American channel was not mistaken in relying on unknowns to bring these characters elevated to the rank of pop culture idols. We can still note that Arabella Stanton, new Hermione, has some stage experience since she played Matilda in the musical comedy West End in Londonbetween 2023 and 2024.

As for teachers, several names have already been made official. Paapa Essiedu has been tapped to take over from Alan Rickman in the role of Severus Snape. The one who made himself known to the general public with I may destroy you will opposite John Lithgow, a 79-year-old American actor who won an Emmy Award in 2017 for his performance in The Crown. By recruiting the American, HBO is breaking the rule set by JK Rowling in the early 2000s. The author had required Warner Bros to only solicit British actors to portray her characters.

Janet McTeer lands the role of Minerva McGonagallthe headmistress of Gryffindor. The British actress has made several notable appearances on the small screen, in the series Jessica Jones for Netflix or more recently in Kaos. In Great Britain, she also played an emblematic character of literary culture: Mrs Dashwood in the adaptation of Reason and Feelings by the BBC.

The real surprise of this announcement lies rather in the more minimal roles, including Professors Quirrel and Filch. The first will be camped by Luke Thallon. He had collaborated with Yorgos Lanthimos to The Favorite in 2018. He will have a crucial role in this first burst of episodes, which must adapt the events of the first novel. Finally, Paul Whitehouse was given the role d’Argus Rusard. The cantankerous Hogwarts janitor was once played by David Bradley.

Where will this be available?

HBO Max has finally arrived in France. The platform has been available since summer 2024 and will therefore be able to broadcast the Harry Potter series when it is released. Note that it is also offered via partner offers at Canal+ or Prime Video. In any case, three plans are offered starting at 5.99 euros per month.

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