Harry Potter is an upcoming fantasy television series developed for HBO, based on the series of eponymous fantasy books by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the second screen adaptation of the books, following the Warner Bros. Pictures film series. Produced by HBO, Warner Bros. Television, Brontë Film & TV, and Heyday Films, the series stars Dominic McLaughlin as the title character, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The principal cast also includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.
Development on a Harry Potter series was revealed to have begun by January 2021, with plans for its production to span a decade as part of a new adaptation of the books. Creatively led by showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod, casting for major roles began in November 2024, and confirmation came by April 2025. A casting call for the main roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione was issued in September 2024; after considering 40,000 actors, McLaughlin, Stout, and Stanton were announced as cast in May 2025. Principal photography began that July at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England.
The first season, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and based on the novel of the same name, consists of eight episodes and is scheduled to premiere in the United States on HBO and globally on HBO Max on 25 December 2026. In May 2026, the series was renewed for a second season which will adapt the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Premise In the first season, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger experience life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, forging strong bonds of friendship as they face the growing danger posed by Lord Voldemort's return.
Cast and characters
Main
Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, an 11-year-old orphan raised by his bitter uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia. When he is accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he learns of his own fame as a wizard, having survived his parents' murder at the hands of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort as an infant. Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend at Hogwarts and the second youngest member of the Weasley wizarding family. Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born witch from London; she excels in Hogwarts classes, and becomes the trio's brains. Stanton was also cast as the voice of a younger Hermione Granger in the audiobook adaptations of the first three books. John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and a famous wizard who mentors Harry. Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts and the Head of Gryffindor House. Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Professor of Potions at Hogwarts and the Head of Slytherin House who has a past with Harry's parents. Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, a half-Giant and groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin student at Hogwarts who becomes a rival to Harry. Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, a fellow Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, a fellow Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Ron's fourth oldest brother and George's twin. Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ron's fifth oldest brother and Fred's twin. Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Ron's third oldest brother and a Hogwarts prefect. Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, a fellow Gryffindor student at Hogwarts and twin of Padma. Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, a fellow Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, a fellow Slytherin student at Hogwarts. William Nash as Gregory Goyle, a fellow Slytherin student at Hogwarts. Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, Professor of Charms at Hogwarts and the Head of Ravenclaw House. Davis reprises his role from the film series. Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout, Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts and the Head of Hufflepuff House.
Recurring Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Harry's abusive uncle, with whom he lives following the death of his parents. Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Harry's abusive aunt, with whom he goes to live following the death of his parents. Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, the mean-spirited caretaker of Hogwarts. Whitehouse previously portrayed Sir Cadogan in the 2004 film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, though his scenes did not make the final cut. Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father who prizes his family's "pure" wizarding blood. Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Ron's mother. Gracie Cochrane (season 1) and Bonnie Hill (season 2) as Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister. Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Harry's abusive cousin. Richard Durden as Cuthbert Binns, ghost-Professor of History of Magic at Hogwarts. Louise Brealey as Madam Hooch, the broomstick flying instructor at Hogwarts. Bríd Brennan as Madame Poppy Pomfrey, the matron of Hogwarts hospital wing. Leigh Gill as Griphook, a goblin employed at the Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander, a wandmaker who owns Ollivanders in Diagon Alley. Laila Barwick as Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin student at Hogwarts and friend of Draco. India Moon as Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts. Orson Matthews as Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team Keeper and captain. Asha Soetan as Angelina Johnson, a Gryffindor Quidditch team Chaser. Eire Farrell as Katie Bell, a Gryffindor Quidditch team Chaser. Serrana Su-Ling Bliss as Alicia Spinnet, a Gryffindor Quidditch team Chaser. Ethan Smith as Lee Jordan, the Weasley twins' best friend and Quidditch commentator. James Trevelyan Buckle as Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts. Cian Eagle-Service as Ernie MacMillan, a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts. Jazmyn Lewin as Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts. Anjula Murali as Padma Patil, a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts and twin of Parvati. Aaron Zhao as Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts. Scarlett Archer as Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw prefect at Hogwarts. Eve Walls as Lisa Turpin, a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts. Oliver Croft as Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch team Chaser and captain. James Dowell as Lucian Bole, a Slytherin Quidditch team Beater. D’Angelou Osei-Kissiedu as Graham Montague, a Slytherin Quidditch team Chaser. Dylan Heath as Adrian Pucey, a Slytherin Quidditch team Chaser. Cornelius Brandreth as Terence Higgs, the Slytherin Quidditch team Seeker. Eddison Burch as Miles Bletchley, the Slytherin Quidditch team Keeper. Henry Medhurst as Peregrine Derrick, a Slytherin Quidditch team Beater. Peter Serafinowicz as Peeves, a nuisance poltergeist at Hogwarts. Kit Harington as Gilderoy Lockhart (season 2), a celebrity author and the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Rafe Spall as Arthur Weasley (season 2), the Weasleys' father and a Ministry of Magic employee overenthusiastic about all things muggle.
Guest Mickey McAnulty as Piers Polkiss, one of Dudley's friends. Lambert Wilson as Nicolas Flamel, an alchemist who gained immortality through his creation of the Philosopher's stone. Marthe Keller as Perenelle Flamel, Nicolas' wife Naomi Wirthner as Madam Malkin, the owner of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions at Diagon Alley Lenny Rush as Dobby (season 2), a house-elf Billy Barratt as Tom Riddle (season 2), the younger version of Voldemort Molly Hewitt-Richards as Moaning Myrtle (season 2), a ghost of a deceased Hogwarts student who haunts the second floor girls' bathroom. Jasper Ambrose as Colin Creevey (season 2), a Gryffindor student.
Production Harry Potter is a co-production by HBO, Warner Bros. Television, Brontë Film and TV, and Heyday Films. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod serve as executive producers alongside J. K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman. According to Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette, the series is HBO's biggest production to date.
Background
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by Rowling from 1997 to 2007. From 2001 to 2011, these were adapted into eight eponymous films, with the final book, Deathly Hallows, split into two feature-length films. Both the books and films have had a notable influence on popular culture; the books have been translated into more than 80 languages, and the film series is the fourth highest-grossing film franchise of all time, with the eight films released collectively grossing over $7.7 billion worldwide.
Development In January 2021, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a Harry Potter television series was in early development and that HBO Max executives were looking for potential writers. HBO Max and Warner Bros. denied the report, saying there was no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform. By May 2022, reports circulated about a meeting between Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Rowling regarding future HBO Max projects set within the Wizarding World franchise.
In December 2022, it was reported that Warner Bros. Television CEO Channing Dungey shared plans to expand the Wizarding World franchise. In April 2023, at a Warner Bros. investors meeting, it was announced that the series was in development. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Zaslav revealed plans for the series during a presentation for the new streaming service Max, the successor to HBO Max. The series would span a decade, and each season would be "faithful" to the book series. A search for a showrunner was under way, while David Heyman was in talks to executive produce after serving as a producer of the film series. The first season is expected to cover the entirety of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997). Rowling was confirmed as an executive producer on the series, which has caused backlash due to her views on transgender people, but HBO and HBO Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys have reaffirmed her involvement. Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts were set as executive producers on the series by April 2023.
Deadline Hollywood stated that by February 2024, there was a shortlist of three candidates to be the series' creative leader, including Succession writer Francesca Gardiner. In June, Gardiner was hired as the showrunner and writer, and Mark Mylod was hired to direct several episodes of the series. Moreover, both of them and Heyman were announced as executive producers. As part of a strategy shift for content, Harry Potter was moved from Max streaming to HBO network release in June 2024. The series is planned to be produced for 10 consecutive years, according to comments Bloys and Zaslav made in 2023 and 2025.
In May 2026, HBO renewed the series for a second season, which is expected to cover the entirety of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), and promoted Jon Brown to co-showrunner.
Writing Andy Greenwald, Bijan Sheibani, Josephine Gardiner, Laura Neal, Martha Hillier, Ripley Parker, Sam Holcroft, Ted Cohen and Jon Brown serve as writers on the series, alongside Francesca Gardiner. Rowling offered positive feedback on the scripts of the first two episodes on social media in June 2025, adding she had "worked closely" with the writers; however, she was not going to get any writing credits. By November 2025, writing for the second season had already begun.
Casting