In recent months, more news has dropped about the much-hyped Harry Potter reboot, which will take the form of a TV series with one season dedicated to each book. The announcement of the reboot hasn’t gone without controversy. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the reactions to the latest Harry Potter TV series news.
How did the new Harry Potter series come about?
In April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery shared the news that a new live-action Harry Potter television series was in the works, with the show set to be streamed on its newly rebranded streaming service Max. The new series is set to be a “faithful adaptation” of the original novels, which were released between 1997-2007. In a statement on their website, Max said: “The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for…Each season will be authentic to the original books…while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise.”
Who has been confirmed to star in the new Harry Potter series?
While the eight films made the name ‘Harry Potter’ synonymous with actor Daniel Radcliffe, Max stated that the series will feature “a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom.” In mid-April, HBO confirmed half a dozen cast members for the upcoming Harry Potter series. These included: John Lithgow, who will play Dumbledore; Paapu Essiedu, who will play Severus Snape; Janet McTeer, as Professor McGonagall; Nick Frost, as Hagrid; Paul Whitehouse, as Argus Finch; and Luke Thallon, as Professor Quirrel.
No announcement has been made yet on the leading roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, or Hermione Granger. Considering that the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, takes place when the trio of would-be wizards are 11 years old, we can expect that the actors who play them will be relatively new to the screen! As for the other cast members, there has been intense speculation that Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy might play Voldemort. Indeed, Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort in the films, voiced his approval of Cillian getting the role. In an interview on Bravo, he said, “Cillian is a fantastic actor. That’s a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian.”
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What has the fan reaction been to the latest news around the Harry Potter series?
Harry Potter has become a cultural phenomenon ever since the first book was published nearly 30 years ago, and the stories have inspired deep devotion and committed fandom. With this in mind, any news about a Harry Potter reboot was always going to be met with interest by lovers of the wizarding world. While news of the series was met with positivity, some casting announcements raised eyebrows among the fans.
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In particular, the announcement of Paapu Essiedu as Snape was met with plenty of discussion on social media. Much of this centred on the fact that Essiedu is black, while in the books Snape is depicted as being “a thin man with sallow skin.” Similarly, fans asked how certain book scenes involving Snape - including a scene where Harry’s father James uses a spell to hang Snape upside down by a tree - could avoid having racial connotations. Despite this, the first cast announcements were generally met with excitement, as most fans praised the new direction for the series.
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What has J.K. Rowling said about the new Harry Potter series?
Rowling, who wrote all seven Harry Potter novels, has voiced her approval of the reboot and will serve as an executive producer on the show. She has stated that she’s "looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series." Rowling appears to be playing a hands-off role in production, similar to the films, meaning that she’s prepared to let Max’s casting teams and film crew do their thing. This in itself has generated interest among fans, considering the controversy surrounding Paapa Essiedu’s casting, and the fact that he shared an open letter opposing a UK Supreme Court ruling around trans rights; Rowling both celebrated and supported this ruling.
Reacting to Essiedu’s signing of the letter, Rowling said on X that she was happy to disagree with Essiedu politically, without needing to get involved in his role as an actor. She stated: “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
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When will we see the new Harry Potter series on screens?
Not for a while, unfortunately! HBO has been targeting a 2026 release date, although in recent months, they have said that early 2027 is a more likely date.
