Max's Harry Potter Series: All the Deets on This Unwarranted Trip to Hogwarts
Last month, the world was rocked with the announcement that a new TV show based on J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series was in the early stages of production. Here's what we can expect from the remake.
In mid-April, HBO Max and Discovery+ announced their merger into a new streaming service, Max, set to launch on May 23. And they did it with a bang.
Among other much-discussed projects that will appear on Max, a new Harry Potter series was announced, sending the Wizarding World fans into a frenzy.
Fans always knew that some kind of Harry Potter-related project was a matter of time, but everyone thought it would be a spin-off of some kind, not a remake of the classic franchise. Now, the main question everyone seems to have is — how will Max ruin the beloved series?
Let's take a look at what we know so far about the controversial project.
Plot
HBO executives have confirmed that the new show will be faithful to the Rowling books. Each season will be based on a new novel, telling another adventure of the boy wizard with a lightning scar who tries to complete his magical education while the Dark Lord is out to kill him.
Release Date
The series is still in the early stages of production, so an official premiere date has yet to be announced. Considering the time it takes to film and post-produce such an ambitious project, it's safe to assume that the show won't be released until 2025. Since each season is based on one novel, the series will most likely consist of seven seasons. Or eight, if the creators decide to split the final book into two installments.
J. K. Rowling
Upon learning the news, fans wondered if the author of the hit book series would be part of the project, and the answer is yes. J. K. Rowling has joined the new series as an executive producer and expressed her excitement at the opportunity to delve deeper into the Potterverse with more screen time and new technology.
Crew
Rowling will be joined by fellow executive producers Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts. David Heyman, the producer of all eight classic franchise installments, will also be part of the production. As for the showrunner, the vacancy has yet to be filled.
Cast
All eyes are on the cast of the series, especially the three protagonists, who are destined to become the biggest stars. It will probably be a long time before the studio announces its casting decision. Meanwhile, fans are free to make their suggestions.
Of course, it would be nice to see some of the actors from the Warner Bros. franchise make cameos or get new roles in the project. However, the three main stars — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint — don't seem too enthusiastic about returning to the Potterverse. So fans will probably have to settle for new names and faces.