Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is still waving his wand with confidence. During the company’s most recent earnings call, Zaslav doubled down on his promise that the Harry Potter TV series will run for ten years on HBO Max—far beyond the expected seven-season plan based on J.K. Rowling’s books. The comments arrive as production on Season 1 ramps up in and around London, with the series set to premiere in 2027. The new Harry Potter adaptation is now fully in motion, with the first official images of the cast and sets drawing surprisingly warm reactions from longtime fans. We’ve already seen Dominic McLaughlin as The Boy Who Lived, Nick Frost as a towering Hagrid, and delightful sneak peeks at Daniel Rigby and Bel Powley as Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.
We’re now starting to get more news on the project week by week, too.
Rumors had swirled in recent weeks that Season 1 would only include six episodes, but acclaimed Brazilian cinematographer Adriano Goldman has officially clarified otherwise. Goldman—best known for his work on The Crown, Andor, and Jane Eyre—is the lead director of photography for Season 1 and confirmed that it will consist of eight episodes in total. He’ll personally handle the first two and final two episodes, with two other cinematographers covering the rest.
“This season is monumental,” Goldman said in an interview. “It needs to establish a whole universe: scenarios that should last many years, all being created now.” The team spent 18 weeks in pre-production to meticulously build the visual world of Hogwarts, Privet Drive, and beyond. “This is the part I consider most rewarding,” Goldman said. “Collaborating from the origin of the project… this joint elaboration of visual content allows a broader collaboration between talented professionals from various areas.”
Zaslav’s 10-year commitment raises plenty of questions. Will some seasons split books into two parts? Will extra material be adapted to flesh out the story? Or could each season take longer to produce, becoming true “event TV” like The White Lotus? What is clear is that HBO is treating this series as a long-term crown jewel. “There is a prospect of seven seasons for the series,” Goldman added. “I don’t know if I’ll be in all of them, but there’s certainly a long journey ahead.”
Who Stars in ‘Harry Potter’?
The core trio includes Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, joining McLaughlin’s Harry. Legendary stars round out the staff of Hogwarts: John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Janet McTeer as McGonagall. Other major roles include Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch, Anton Lesser as Ollivander, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, Paul Whitehouse as Filch, and Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom.
Season 1 is currently filming, with production expected to last 10 months, possibly covering parts of Seasons 1 and 2. HBO plans to release the first season in 2027, with subsequent seasons arriving approximately once per year.
via Collider