HBO boss Casey Bloys discusses the release timeline and the gaps between seasons for the network’s upcomingHarry PotterTV show. Based on the series of seven children’s fantasy novels by J.K. Rowling, theHarry Potterfilm franchisewas the first adaptation of the stories that ran from 2001 to 2011. In April 2023,HBO announced that it would be developing a live-action TV adaptationof the series, marking the first time The Wizarding World will appear on the small screen.
At a recent press conference (viaTV Line), Bloys discussed the plans for the show, when it will be released, and how long of a gap there will be between seasons. TheHarry Pottermovies ran for eight movies over 10 years, and though HBO has committed to a 10-year timescale for the show, the HBO studio boss admitted thatnothing is set in stone yet because the show is still in the writing and casting phase. He’s also unsure whether droppinga new season every year is a viable option. Check out Bloys' full comments below:
“When we started the whole thing, we kind of laid out, ‘Oh, it could probably be ’27, something like that,' But don’t hold me to any of that, because we’re just getting started in the writing and casting process… I think an annual schedule will be tough, but it depends on how much is written ahead of time.”
What These Comments Mean For TheHarry PotterTV Show
The Shooting Schedule Will Likely Be Atypical
Bloys' comments suggest that the filming schedule for theHarry PotterTV showwill be atypical and could be the reason the network chose to commit to a decade-long time frame to produce the series. A lot of factors could cause delays in production, such as financing, location issues, casting problems, and accidents on-set, andit is impossible to know at such an early stage when production will properly begin.Furthermore, the production is likely to progress slower than previously thought, as Bloys and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav had predicted a late 2026 or 2027 release before this recent comment.
Harry Potter: How the TV Remake Will Differ From the Movies
The Harry Potter TV show is already controversial, but it is going to be very different from the beloved movies.
Furthermore, a season per year is challenging and likely not viable considering the huge scale and cost involved -The Rings of Power’s budget being a great example. HBO also will want to make other shows in that time, and the cast may have other obligations. Quality is more important than speed, and this will likely mean a gap between seasons. HBO will need to ensure the cast doesn’t age too much during this time, andshooting a couple of seasons back-to-back could combat this.
No roles have been confirmed but HBO reportedly want Oscar-winner Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore.
Our Verdict On TheHarry PotterRelease Date & Shooting Timeline
HBO Will Not Want To Wait Too Long To Begin Production
It’s unclear whetherHarry Potterwill be released over 10 years, or if there will be 10 seasons, though the latter feels highly improbable given Bloys' comments. I don’t think HBO will want to wait too long to begin production, so I could see filming starting in 2026, even if it is just the core cast, and then accelerating once the casting and writing are finalized. It’s also likely the first couple of seasons will be shot together, with gaps between the latter seasons to allow for actors aging, and for more complex and sprawling narratives and production design.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
