Netflix hasn’t officially bought Warner Bros. yet — but it’s already acting like it knows exactly what it wants to protect when it does. After Warner Bros. Discovery formally rejected what it called an “inferior” hostile bid from Paramount this week, all signs point toward Netflix eventually absorbing the studio in a massive cash-and-stock deal. Netflix has reportedly put forward a $27.75-per-share offer, with Warner Bros. shareholders expected to vote on the merger sometime in 2026. If approved, it would mark one of the most consequential shifts in Hollywood history. And while that prospect has sparked anxiety among film fans — particularly those worried about Netflix’s well-documented lack of interest in theatrical releases — one major concern has loomed larger than most: what happens to Harry Potter?
But from the looks of things at Netflix, the answer is simple: it’s staying at the very top of the priority list. To signal its vision for the merger, Netflix released new key art showcasing Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) side-by-side with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). It’s not a subtle comparison. Stranger Things is Netflix’s single most valuable original IP — and placing Harry Potter alongside it sends a clear message about how the streamer views the Wizarding World. Accompanying the image was a bold slogan tied to the acquisition:
“Defining the next century of storytelling together… More choice, more opportunity, more value.”
In Netflix terms, that’s corporate speak for this franchise is sacred and we know how much money it will make us. For fans worried that the upcoming HBO Harry Potter reboot might get derailed or deprioritized, this is about as reassuring as it gets. Netflix doesn’t spotlight properties it plans to sideline — it spotlights the ones it plans to build around.
What’s Happening With the New Harry Potter Series?
Production on the new Harry Potter series quietly began earlier this year, with Dominic McLaughlin cast as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. While Season 1 isn’t expected to hit screens until early 2027, the plan is for the show to follow an annual filming and release cycle.
The series has been filming since the early summer, and is set to continue all the way through until next year, at which point a short break will be undertaken ahead of Season 2’s adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
via Collider