Some exciting news has emerged that should thrill wizards and muggles alike as the Harry Potter franchise could soon be coming to the small screen for further magical adventures. The news comes that Warner Bros. is in very early development on a live-action series that will expand on the world of J.K. Rowling's books and the popular movies.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of this new series that is said to be in the very early stages. Though HBO Max and Warner Bros. denied any Harry Potter series is in the works, THR maintains that their sources confirmed the studio and streaming platform have been meeting with writers and discussing possible directions the series could take. As of now, no talent has been attached to the project and there is no word on whether the actors from the film series will be included in any way.
Rumors of a continuation of the Harry Potter franchise and a possible television series has been talked about for quite some time, but this remains the first news of any developments. Given the massive popularity of the franchise, both in terms of books and movies, it is no surprise that Warner Bros. wants to revisit this world. The original franchise ended in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Death Hallows: Part 2 and the spin-off series, Fantastic Beast, is set to release its third entry next year.
HBO Max has already lined up some impressive content with their controversial release schedule for 2021, but the platform seems to still be looking for those big tentpole projects that will draw fans in. Though the Harry Potter franchise has been embroiled in controversy lately due to casting drama in Fantastic Beasts 3 and continued backlash against J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter is still a property with plenty of appeal around the world.
A television series might seem like a surprising way to revive the Harry Potter series, but it does seem like a smart move for HBO Max. Game of Thrones proves that mainstream audiences can fall in love with a grand fantasy series and shows like The Mandalorian and the upcoming Lord of the Rings series suggest more movie franchises might start embracing the television world.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter