Credit: Warner Bros.Whether we want it or not, we finally know when the reboot of Harry Potter will hit our screens.
In the world of beloved IP, few franchises evoke quite as much passion as Harry Potter – which is why attitudes towards the upcoming reboot from HBO are so mixed.
Nostalgia reigns supreme with Harry Potter fans, and many are apprehensive about the prospect of revisiting the Wizarding World with fresh faces and adaptations, especially when it’s only been 13 years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) hit theaters.
While some fans welcome the chance to see a new interpretation of JK Rowling’s iconic series, others express concern that the new series may fail to capture the magic that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and the rest of the franchise’s stellar cast captivated audiences for over two decades.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Rowling adds yet another layer of resistance.
Her views on the transgender community and gender identity have sparked significant backlash, leading to some abandoning the fandom as a whole and calling for new projects (such as last year’s “Hogwarts Legacy” and this reboot) to be boycotted. It’s also driven a wedge between her and the franchise’s alumni, with Radcliffe describing the situation as “sad.”
HBO Is Pushing Ahead With Harry Potter 2.0 Regardless
Soon enough, however, Radcliffe will no longer be the de facto face of Harry Potter. Casting for the new Harry Potter series is already generating buzz, particularly after an open call for young actors drew attention. This casting notice from Cast It Talent seeks children’s performances for the iconic roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, specifically targeting UK and Ireland residents.
With the series adapting one book per season, the notice advised that actors would be signing up for a decade-long project. It also added that it is “committed to inclusive, diverse casting.”
We’re a long way off getting a cast for other parts, such as Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Sirius Black. However, several high-profile names have already been thrown around for the roles, with Gary Oldman – who played Sirius Black in the original films – even putting himself forward to replace the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon as Dumbledore.
The show also has its creative team locked and ready to go. Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, both accomplished figures in the industry, will lead the direction of the reboot. Gardiner, known for her work on Succession and the BBC’s Killing Eve, will serve as showrunner and executive producer.
Meanwhile, Mylod, equally recognized as a director and executive producer, brings his experience from Game of Thrones and The Last of Us to the project.
Release Timeline for the Harry Potter TV Show
Now that the gears are turning on the franchise, we finally have an idea of when we’re heading back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, has confirmed to Deadline that the series is heading for a release window between late 2026 and early 2027.
While the casting call for Harry, Ron, and Hermione states that the actors need to be aged between 9 and 11 in March 2025, Bloys emphasized that this doesn’t necessarily mean the series will start filming then.
However, he confirmed that he’s confident about where the Harry Potter franchise is heading. “With [writer] Francesca [Gardiner] and Mark, I feel very, very happy and excited about what they’ve got going,” he said.
How do you feel about the Harry Potter reboot?