A Harry Potter TV series is reportedly in the very early stages of development at HBO Max.
According to a report from Variety, sources have claimed that a show based on the Wizarding World is moving ahead - though what exactly this show could end up looking like is anyone's guess right now. No director, writers, or actors have been attached to the project, and there are no plot details to speak of just yet. THR corroborated Variety's report, explaining that "broad ideas have been discussed" for when and where the show could take place, but not much beyond that.
It should also be noted that HBO Max and Warner Bros. told THR, "There are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform." Of course, given that project is at such an early stage, it could be that Warner Bros. simply doesn't consider it to be "in development" yet.
If/when a Harry Potter series arrives, there are plenty of avenues the show could explore. The likes of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them and the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy video game remind us that there was plenty of life in the Wizarding World before Harry Potter was born. We could, for example, get a series about Lily and James Potter during their time at Hogwarts, or a show that further explores Voldemort's troubled youth. There's also a chance that the show could take us post-Deathly Hallows and explore the lives of a grown-up Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
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We might even get something as simple as a fresh adaption of the books. The movies left a fair few plot beats and characters out after all, and a TV series spanning seven books could run for quite a while.
Former Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe had previously explained to IGN that he fully expects the original stories to be rebooted for film or TV one day, and we're inclined to agree. "It will be interesting to see how long those films stay," he said. "It feels like there's a sacredness around them at the moment, but that'll go, the shine will wear off at some point. It'll be interesting if they reboot them and just do the films again or do a series; I'm fascinated to watch."
It also remains unclear how involved Harry Potter J.K Rowling would be with any potential TV series. The author has made repeated and controversial trans exclusionary comments over the last few years, earning herself widespread condemnation across the board - including from Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. While the Hogwarts Legacy developers have previously insisted she plays no part in the upcoming game, she remains an unfortunate fact of the Harry Potter franchise for many.
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.Topics: Harry Potter, News, Warner Bros, TV