Get ready to head down to Platform 9¾ as we might be heading back to Hogwarts soon. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news today that a live-action Harry Potter series is being discussed at Warner Brothers for HBO Max.
The details are light. The streaming service reportedly met with some potential writers to explore “various ideas that would bring the beloved property to television.” No names were given, no deals made, no specifics, just broad strokes.
What does that mean?
Well, Potterheads shouldn’t be racing to their screens just yet. It’s early days and nothing official has been announced. Nor should we expect news any time soon. HBO Max and Warner Brothers both confirmed that “there are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform.”
Streaming services look to take advantage of fan-favorite properties. An extended Harry Potter universe would be a huge potential hit. After all, Marvel and Star Wars have made Disney+ must stream TV.
While HBO Max does have a few popular franchises, they don’t have a signature original series for appointment viewing… yet. Their current DC series all originated at DC Universe. Those shows, Titans, Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing were developed with comic fans in mind, not a broader general audience, though moving to HBO Max may bring changes and make them a bigger hit.
The Wizarding World has a rich history that has not really been fully explored. Imagine a series focused on Tom Riddle’s days at Hogwarts. A series about the school’s early days and its four founders. Maybe a series set during the 1960s and 70s when a young James Potter and his friends were students, or a 21st century take, with Hogwarts students going to the American school, Ilvermorny.
It may take some time before we see any concrete news.
What stories would you be interested in seeing in a Harry Potter TV series?
