Excitement brews as HBO gears up for its forthcoming Harry Potter TV series, transitioning from its initial development at Max to premiere on HBO. In a strategic move, the show has enlisted the talents of Succession veterans Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod as showrunner and director, respectively.
The series, set to retell J.K. Rowling’s beloved saga of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, promises a “faithful adaptation” of the original books. It will dive into the enchanting world of Hogwarts and Harry Potter’s formative years, featuring an entirely new cast, which has yet to be announced. The show’s move to HBO marks a significant branding shift and is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy to bolster its original programming on the cable channel alongside streaming on Max.
Francesca Gardiner, known for her narrative flair in family-friendly fantasy such as His Dark Materials, takes the helm as the series’ showrunner and executive producer. Her impressive resume also includes contributions to HBO’s Succession and Killing Eve.
In addition, executive producer and director Mark Mylod brings a robust track record from directing high-stakes drama in the critically acclaimed HBO’s Succession, Game of Thrones and The Last of Us.
The announcement aligns with the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and follows the waning momentum of the Fantastic Beasts films, positioning the HBO series as a revitalising force for the Wizarding World franchise.
Rowling has taken to X/Twitter to express her high hopes for the series, saying, “I’m truly thrilled to announce our director and writer, both of whom I interviewed as part of the production team.”
Despite controversies surrounding Rowling’s comments on social issues, HBO has opted to focus on the series’ potential to enchant a new generation of fans. Casting details and further series information are expected to be released as the 2026 premiere approaches.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
