“The Hollywood Reporter” is reporting that Warner Bros. and HBO Max are in early development on a live-action Harry Potter TV series. According to the trade, executives at WarnerMedia have had a series of meetings with writers to bring the beloved franchise to the small screen.
It should be noted that these talks are in the very early stages and no writers or talent are officially attached to the potential project. “The Hollywood Reporter” cites sources that a series is in development but HBO Max and Warner Bros. reaffirmed in a statement that “There are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or the streaming platform.” They wouldn’t be the first studio or network to deny a story because it leaked too early but considering every major publication is picking this up, I’d say there is a lot of truth to this story.
Warner Bros. and HBO Max are making it a priority to expand the world of Harry Potter. Along with creator J.K. Rowling, the two entities control the rights to the property and it’s one of Warners’ most valuable pieces of IP. Across eight feature films, the franchise has grossed more than $7 billion worldwide and it continues to be a global phenomenon. In addition to the main franchise, Warner Bros. also has the Fantastic Beasts prequel series which is set to bow its third film next year.