A few months ago, the boss of Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed the importance of licenses for its economic model and its influence. The studio, which can boast of having several monuments of popular culture under its banner, intends to revive two successes from the early 2000s: Lord of the Rings et Harry Potter. Concerning the first, a film dedicated to Gollum is currently in production. The firm is taking new paths to expand the mythology of JRR Tolkien, still with Peter Jackson producing but Andy Serkis directing.
For its part, the universe dedicated to the little wizard with glasses has already had its spin-off at the cinema and the result has not really lived up to expectations. To continue to keep the brand alive, while minimizing the risks of failure, it is therefore a series aimed at Max which is preparing to emerge. In April 2023, Max (formerly HBO Max) formalized the development of a new adaptation of the works of JK Rowling. After eight films, between 2001 and 2011, Harry Potter will take over our living rooms.
More than twenty years after Harry, Ron and Hermione’s first year at Hogwarts in the guise of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, a new generation of actors will give shape to the iconic trio. For HBO Max boss Casey Bloys, this is an opportunity to “dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans continue to love after all these years.” Here’s everything we know about the project.
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 Max platform, a merger of HBO Max and Discovery, 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 the novels by George RR Martin was able to do.
We already know that the first season will consist of eight episodes of one hour each, more than enough to immortalize all the events passed over in silence in front of Chris Columbus’ camera. This is particularly true regarding the prankster spirit Peeves, who will finally be able to take over our screens. It brings with it a number of spectral subplots. We can hope that her fear of the Bloody Baron will be evoked, to add a little density to the author’s already very rich imagination. Although his importance is quite less, Peeves is one of the characters whose stories punctuate Harry’s adventures at Hogwarts.
When will it be released?
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 in early development, it will not be available on our screens in the coming months. Max must first go in search of the faces that will carry these seasons. The latest news is that 2026 or even 2027 is being considered. There is still a lot to do, while no casting announcement has been made.
With such a schedule, the creative teams only have two years left to launch production. 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 the shooting will take place in Leavesden, where the Making of Harry Potter studios are currently located. However, the creators recently 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 one another had already managed to bring out very different aesthetics within the same saga.
What will it say?
Rather than exploring the universe created by J.K. Rowling alongside new characters, Warner Bros made the choice of safety by re-adapting the best-sellers. The plot will therefore focus on young Harry Potter, who following a visit from a tender-hearted giant, discovers that he is a wizard. He is also the chosen one, the only one capable of destroying Voldemort. At his side, his friends Ron and Hermione help him overcome many challenges.
If the story will obviously be similar to those of the films, spectators can already expect some surprises. The different writers and directors of the film franchise had had to pass over a few chapters in silence, to remain below the three hours mark of general public entertainment. The series should have the opportunity to dwell on certain details unfairly relegated to the background, or even abandoned. The Society for Aiding the Liberation of Elves founded by Hermione, for example, promises to be the subject of numerous discussions and arguments between the three friends.
But the section which should particularly interest spectators is devoted to the Marauders. In the third book, Harry discovers Lupin’s curse and the reasons behind it. Sirius, more also Peter Pettigrow and James Potter to become AI’m sorry. Anyway, Warner Bros would like to reassure early fans, this new adaptation will be “faithful” to its base material. Casey Bloys advance that all this will be done “with all the care and craftsmanship necessary for this kind of franchise.“
Who is involved?
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 Beasts, Rowling will this time only be entitled to a consulting role.
David Heymanwho worked to bring the whole saga initiated in front of Chris Columbus’ camera to fruition, also joined the adventure.
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.
The original actors returning?
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. The casting has not yet been communicated, and probably won’t be for a while. Warner Bros must indeed find new faces to carry the standard loud and clear Wizarding World and endear yourself to spectators. On September 9, a casting call was published on Instagram. The company is looking for its trio of wizards, among British children aged 9 to 11.
As for teachers, several names have already been circulated. HBO has reportedly courted Mark Rylance, known for Dunkirk and In the Shadow of the Tudors, to take over from Richard Harris and Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore. In early December, Paapa Essiedu’s name was mentioned for Severus Snape. According to sources close to the matter, relayed by The Hollywood Reporterthe one who made himself known to the general public with I may destroy you still has to give his answer.
Where will this be available?
Max is finally available in our green lands. Since last June, the French public has been able to benefit from access to the platform’s catalog. Discovery and its reality TV shows, the DC universes or even the film productions of Warner Bros, there is no shortage of licenses. Harry Potter occupies a special place, and the upcoming arrival of the series promises to put a new spotlight on the SVOD offer. Max will nevertheless be patient, and count on other series and films to attract many attentions. Either way, the French public won’t have to wait any longer than the United States, and that’s already good news. See you in 2026 (at the earliest) and probably before to find out what this Harry Potter 2.0 saga is worth.
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