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A “Harry Potter” series is in very early development at HBO Max, Variety has learned from sources.

Rumors that a show set within the wizarding world have persisted for some time. Now it seems those plans are moving ahead, though no writers or talent are currently attached to the project. There is no word yet on what the focus of the show would be or what part of the “Harry Potter” timeline it would focus on should it move ahead.

Variety has reached out to HBO Max and Warner Bros. for comment and will update should they respond.

The “Harry Potter” book series is one of the most popular of all time, with the seven books in the series having sold over 500 million copies worldwide. They were then adapted into a hit eight-film franchise, which has grossed nearly $8 billion worldwide. There have also been two films to date in the prequel spinoff “Fantastic Beasts” film series, with the third of five planned films due out in 2022.

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Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to close a deal to produce a “Harry Potter” television series.

According to Bloomberg, which was first to report news of recent talks surrounding the project, the project would be directly based on J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series, rather than an in-universe spinoff such as the “Fantastic Beasts” film series. Each season would reportedly draw from one of the books, suggesting an ongoing franchise that would stretch for years for the studio.

Sources close to the situation suggest that talks between Warner Bros. Discovery and Rowling’s camp remain in a preliminary state. The studio is looking to house the series under its streaming banner HBO Max, soon to be combined with Discovery+ and rebranded under a new name.

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Harry woke on the last day of the holidays, thinking that he would at least meet Ron and Hermione tomorrow, on the Hogwarts Express. He got up, dressed, went for a last look at the Firebolt, and was just wondering where he’d have lunch, when someone yelled his name and he turned.

‘Harry! HARRY!’

They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him.

‘Finally!’ said Ron, grinning at Harry as he sat down. ‘We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you’d left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin’s, and –’

‘I got all my school stuff last week,’ Harry explained. ‘And how come you know I’m staying at the Leaky Cauldron?’

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‘One moment, please, Macnair,’ came Dumbledore’s voice. ‘You need to sign, too.’ The footsteps stopped. Harry heaved on the rope. Buckbeak snapped his beak and walked a little faster.

Hermione’s white face was sticking out from behind a tree.

‘Harry, hurry!’ she mouthed.

Harry could still hear Dumbledore’s voice talking from within the cabin. He gave the rope another wrench. Buckbeak broke into a grudging trot. They had reached the trees…

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The Harry Potter television series is starting to take shape.

Succession duo Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod have signed up as its writer and director, respectively.

This comes four months after Deadline revealed that Gardiner was one of three finalists to win the prize to reboot the classic kids franchise for the small screen. Gardiner beat Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan to win the gig.

Gardiner, who was a consulting producer on seasons three and four of the Brian Cox-led family drama, will serve as showrunner and exec producer, while Mylod, who directed over a dozen episodes of the show, including episodes such as the second episode, Sh*t Show at the F*ck Factory, and the finale, With Open Eyes, will direct multiple episodes and also exec produce.

It comes after it emerged that Harry Potter was moving from a Max original to an HBO original as part of a strategy rethink at the Warner Bros. Discovery business. The series is slated for a 2026 bow.

The series, which is currently still in development, will be a “faithful” adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books and will feature a new cast.

Harry Potter is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Rowling’s Brontë Film and TV. Rowling, Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV will exec produce alongside Gardiner and Mylod as well as David Heyman of Heyday Films, who produced the movies.

Before working on Jesse Armstrong creation Succession, Gardiner was an exec producer of HBO and BBC fantasy co-production His Dark Materials and was a co-exec producer of AMC’s Killing Eve. She has also written on shows including Starz’s The Rook and Amazon’s The Man In The High Castle.

Mylod’s other credits include the Minority Report series, Backstrom, Shameless and Entourage.

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HBO is interested in casting I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape in their upcoming Harry Potter TV series, Deadline understands. However, no formal offers have been made to the actor nor has his team conversed with HBO suits about a potential deal.

In the movies, it was the late Alan Rickman who made the chilly, yet somewhat sympathetic Snape, famous. The character is expected to be the antagonist in the series. Both Mark Strong and Mark Rylance we hear are circling the role of Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.

An HBO spokesperson told recently about such casting rumors, “We appreciate that such a high profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation. As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

HBO is planning to have a diverse cast for the TV series. The long-running stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has also embraced diversity when it comes to the prime roles from the books and movies, i.e. Hermione.

The Emmy- and BAFTA-nominated Essiedu recently signed with WME for representation. He notched a Supporting Actor Emmy nom in Limited or Anthology Series as well as a Lead Actor BAFTA TV nom for his turn as Kwame in Michaela Coel’s HBO series I May Destroy You. He also received a BAFTA Lead Actor TV nom for The Lazarus Project.

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The first name to make the rounds was Oscar winner Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the movies. Mark Strong more recently emerged as a prospect for the part, along with I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu for Potions Master Snape, originated by the late Alan Rickman in the films.

The rumor mill also has been hyping of late Emmy-nominated Bad Sisters co-creator/star Sharon Horgan as being eyed for Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, portrayed by the late Maggie Smith in the movies. (There has been conflicting information whether Oscar winner Rachel Weisz is also on the wish list for the role.)

Meanwhile, Emmy-winning Ted Lasso fan favorite Brett Goldstein has been rumored for the role of Hogwarts’ gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid originated by Robbie Coltrane.


None of the actors are believed to have formal offers.

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