Exciting news for all the Potterheads out there! Warner Bros. Discovery has officially announced that a Max Original series based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved “Harry Potter” books is in the works. The series, which will be executive produced by Rowling herself, is set to stream worldwide on Max and promises to be a faithful adaptation of the original books, albeit with a new cast.
In a statement, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav revealed that the plan for the series is to span a decade, stating, “It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean, it’s really something.” This news has sent waves of excitement through the Potter fandom, who are eagerly anticipating a fresh take on the magical world of Hogwarts.
Your Hogwarts letter is here.
— HBO Max (@hbomax) April 12, 2023
Max has ordered the first ever #HarryPotter scripted television series, a faithful adaptation of the iconic books. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/3CgEHLYhch
JK Rowling herself issued a statement, expressing her satisfaction with Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of her books. She also mentioned her excitement about being part of this new adaptation, which will have the advantage of a long-form television series format to explore the intricacies and details of the wizarding world.
According to reports, Zaslav had multiple meetings with Rowling in the UK to obtain her approval for the project. Brontë Film and TV, along with Warner Bros. Television, are the production companies behind the series for Max. Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts are also set to executive produce, and David Heyman, a long-time franchise executive producer, is currently in talks to join the project as well.
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content revealed during a presentation that the series will have a substantial budget, comparable to the scale of “House of the Dragon” or even higher, with a reported first season budget of over $125 million. This indicates Warner Bros. Discovery’s commitment to delivering a high-quality product that will do justice to the magical world of “Harry Potter.”
Furthermore, Zaslav assured fans that the new series will not limit the potential for other projects in the vast “Harry Potter” universe. He stated, “We’re free to do anything we want. Some areas we need to do with J.K., and 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.” This means that fans can expect more exciting content from the wizarding world in the future.
The “Harry Potter” books, which have sold a staggering 600 million copies worldwide, have spawned a massive franchise that includes retail stores, theme parks, a global stage play, and a highly successful feature film series with a total gross of $7.7 billion. The spinoff films from the “Fantastic Beasts” series have also grossed $1.8 billion globally, further cementing the enduring popularity of the wizarding world.
With the announcement of the Max Original series, fans are eagerly anticipating the casting news, storyline details, and the creative vision of the showrunner who will bring the magic of “Harry Potter” to life on the small screen.