HBO’s Harry Potter Production Moves Ahead

Since my last Harry Potter article, several reliable sources have announced updates on the pre-production, and developments have been well underway.

Earlier this year, HBO announced an open casting call for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in September. However, there has been no official announcement on who's playing the roles made famous on-screen by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson yet. On 5th December, at Warner Bros. Discovery’s headquarters in London, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod unveiled intriguing details about the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. The Rowling Library divulged all in their latest article covering the event.

“We have eight hours to tell the first book, so we can dig into the real depths and crevices and how the language of magic can evolve”, they shared. They also revealed the scale of the casting process, with 32,000 children auditioning for the lead roles and the team currently sifting through an impressive 5,000 audition tapes each day. True to the books, the characters’ canonical ages will be honoured—Snape will appear in his 30s, while James and Lily Potter will be portrayed as the 21-year-olds they were at the time of their deaths.

The team excitedly announced that Peeves would be included in this adaptation; however, the poltergeist's mischievous antics were noticeably absent from the films. English actor Rik Mayall was cast as Peeves the Poltergeist for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," but his scenes were ultimately cut. As a result, the character only appeared in the video game tie-ins.

Fear not, the team eagerly confirmed the much anticipated Peeves' long-awaited mischief: “We’ll get to have some fun with Peeves in the corridors!” Iconic settings like the Great Hall will remain unchanged (“We don’t want to mess with the likes of the Great Hall, but other elements of Hogwarts we will expand”), but fans can expect to see a broader vision of Hogwarts. Mylod hinted at new locations, including the rarely glimpsed Hogwarts staffroom, while also reimagining the school’s evolving aesthetics.

“We approached it with the mindset that Hogwarts is a real place,” Mylod explained, emphasising their intent to explore the castle’s architectural history and how its design might have developed over centuries.”

Yes, you read that correctly. HBO will use familiar sets for this adaptation. The upcoming HBO Original Series, Harry Potter, will be filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. Production will begin in the Summer of 2025 and be available exclusively on the Max streaming platform.

HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter series has officially entered pre-production, with Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden confirmed as the primary filming location. As production commences in the Summer of 2025, intriguing questions remain about whether the series will reuse existing sets, which are popular with tourists, or if the studio will create entirely new environments for this adaptation.

This announcement comes after considerable speculation about the series' casting choices. According to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, three actors have been rumoured to have been offered or are in discussions for lead roles.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paapa Essiedu is reportedly being considered for the role of Severus Snape. Essiedu, an Emmy-nominated actor, is recognized for his performances in "I May Destroy You" and "Black Mirror." Furthermore, Janet McTeer is said to be in discussions to portray Minerva McGonagall. McTeer, known for her roles in "Ozark" and "Jessica Jones," is also an Emmy nominee. Lastly, Variety reports that Mark Rylance is the frontrunner to play Albus Dumbledore. The Oscar-winning actor has appeared in notable films such as "Bridge of Spies," "Dunkirk," and "The Trial of the Chicago 7."

Francesca Gardiner has confirmed that the first season will consist of eight episodes. Production is progressing steadily, with a release date aimed for 2027. Fans of the beloved book series can expect a faithful and more detailed adaptation of J.K. Rowling's first novel. Three screenwriters have been confirmed to join Gardiner's writers' room: Laura Neal, Josephine Gardiner, and Andy Greenwald.

Laura Neal has experience writing for the BBC series "Killing Eve" and "Sex Education" on Netflix. Josephine Gardiner does not have prior television credits, but she is the author of the well-reviewed psychological mystery novel "Whistling Jack." Andy Greenwald has several notable credits, including "Legion" on FX and "Briarpatch" on USA Network.

However, some concerns have arisen due to Greenwald's comments about the Harry Potter series on his podcast, "The Watch," which he co-hosts with Chris Ryan. These comments were made during an episode released in February.

During a discussion about the Harry Potter series, he mentioned, “I think the pleasures that can be derived from that are probably not for me because I didn’t read all the books. I read them to my older daughter until she was able to read them herself, and then she surpassed me. I believe there may be other creative possibilities within this world.”

While this raised some concerns among fans—given that he hadn’t read the complete saga and seemed to think there was still room for creativity in the Wizarding World—he also stated, “An incredibly rigorous text-to-screen adaptation is likely a safe bet for success.” He emphasized, “These are very rich and lengthy books, especially later in the series. People adore them, and successive generations are discovering and loving them every day.”

We can anticipate the Potter saga being explored across various mediums. According to Variety, Warner Bros. is inspired by the success of the 2023 video game "Hogwarts Legacy," which has sold over 30 million units. The company is currently developing a sequel that will connect with storylines from the upcoming TV show. While details are not yet confirmed, the game may delve into the timelines of the Hogwarts founders or the Marauders.

Audible's upcoming full-cast audiobooks of the seven Harry Potter books have appointed Anna Hutton as Project Director. With nearly 20 years of experience in digital content strategies for major TV franchises in the UK, Hutton is well-equipped for this role.

Before joining Pottermore Publishing in August 2023, she held senior positions at ITV, Sky, and the BBC, working on popular shows like Game of Thrones and Love Island. Hutton has won multiple awards for her creative and commercial expertise. The new Harry Potter audio editions, set to release in late 2025, will feature over 100 voice actors, original scoring, and immersive Dolby Atmos sound design, providing fans with a fresh way to experience the beloved wizarding world.

As updates roll out in the new year, I highly recommend following The Rowling Library on its social media platforms for all the latest information about the development of the Harry Potter series and much more.

What do you think of these developments? Let us know in the comments!