A TV reboot of Harry Potter is nearing a deal, with each season of the planned show tackling a book from the original series. The Harry Potter franchise is acclaimed for its film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s original novel series, which saw Daniel Radcliffe in the titular role alongside Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. The film adaptations garnered $7.7 billion at the worldwide box office across eight installments.
Now, Bloomberg reports that a new Harry Potter TV show based on Rowling’s original book series is nearing a deal at Warner Bros. A source says it would be for both cable and streaming, with the planned series set to be a major part of Warner Bros.’ new streaming strategy. However, the deal is not yet completed, with company CEO David Zaslav and HBO CEO Casey Bloys talking with Rowling about the series debuting on HBO and being a foundation for Warner Bros.’ new Max streaming service.
Why Harry Potter Is Getting A TV Reboot
More Harry Potter content has been discussed by Warner Bros. recently, with CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels teasing an expansive Wizarding World yet to come. This has included director Chris Columbus expressing interest in a film adaptation of the 2016 play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. However, if the latest report is to be believed, it appears Warner Bros. wants to restart Harry Potter’s time on-screen from the very beginning, at least in the world of TV.
A Harry Potter reboot makes sense at this time, given that the original film series ended in 2011, marking 12 years since Harry and his friends have appeared in some form of live-action adaptation. Readapting the series for television will allow the Wizarding World to be more thoroughly explored as well, perhaps even beyond the bounds of Rowling’s pages. The series would have the privilege of introducing a new generation of viewers to Harry Potter, who can then grow up with the franchise as original readers and viewers did.
However, the move to create a new Harry Potter series also comes in the midst of a continuing discussion surrounding Rowling and her transphobia controversy. Because she is the creator of the series, Rowling’s involvement would be inevitable, and may impact how much public support the show receives. However, with the continued popularity of the franchise, including high sales for 2023’s open-world action game Hogwarts Legacy, it’s likely a Harry Potter TV reboot will still prove a successful venture for Warner Bros. as they expand their streaming library.
