HARRY POTTER Reboot Set For 2026 Debut; SUCCESSION's Francesca Gardiner Reportedly On Board As Showrunner

HARRY POTTER Reboot Set For 2026 Debut; SUCCESSION's Francesca Gardiner Reportedly On Board As Showrunner

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has revealed that the small-screen Harry Potter reboot is currently set for a 2026 debut on the MAX streaming service...

By MarkCassidy - Feb 24, 2024 11:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Harry Potter
Source: Via SFF Gazette

Following persistent rumors, we got confirmation of Warner Bros. Discovery's plans to revisit the Harry Potter franchise back in 2022 when Davis Zaslav took over as head of the studio, and the WBD CEO has now shared an update on the project's status.

During Friday's Q4 earnings call, Zaslav revealed that the first instalment of the reboot series is set to hit the MAX streaming service at some point in 2026.

As previously reported, controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be involved with the series "so she can ensure it remains loyal to her original material.” The writer is not expected to be appointed as showrunner, but it sounds like she will have at least some creative input.

Zaslav mentioned that he flew to London a few weeks ago with HBO and Max content boss Casey Bloys and Channing Dungey, chairperson of Warner Bros. Television, to meet with Rowling about the show.

“We spent some real time with J.K. and her team,” Zaslav said on the call. “Both sides are just thrilled to be reigniting this franchise. Our conversations were great, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead. We can’t wait to share a decade of new stories with fans around the world on Max.”

Rowling has become a highly divisive figure over the past few years due to her views on gender, which many perceive to be anti-trans.

“Activists in my mentions are trying to organize yet another boycott of my work, this time of the Harry Potter TV show," Rowling Tweeted shortly after the project was announced. "As forewarned is forearmed, I’ve taken the precaution of laying in a large stock of champagne,”

No casting for the series has been announced, but we do know that the actors from the big-screen franchise will most likely not be involved. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the Boy Who Lived in the eight Warner Bros. movies, has said he’s “definitely not seeking it out in any way."

Last we heard, Succession scribe Francesca Gardiner was in talks to board the show as a writer, with Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie also said to be in contention. On the latest episode of The Hot Mic podcast, co-host John Rocha said he'd heard that Gardiner has now been hired as showrunner.

"Harry Potter is a film series based on the eponymous novels by British author J. K. Rowling. The series is produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and culminating with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). A spin-off prequel series started with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), marking the beginning of the Wizarding World shared media franchise.

HARRY POTTER: Mark Rylance Is Reportedly Being Eyed To Play Dumbledore In HBO Series
Related:

HARRY POTTER: Mark Rylance Is Reportedly Being Eyed To Play Dumbledore In HBO Series

Legendary HARRY POTTER And DOWNTON ABBEY Star Dame Maggie Smith Passes Away Aged 89
Recommended For You:

Legendary HARRY POTTER And DOWNTON ABBEY Star Dame Maggie Smith Passes Away Aged 89

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

dracula
dracula - 2/24/2024, 11:42 AM
Benedict Cumberbatch for Snape

probably unknowns for the students
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 2/25/2024, 2:23 AM
@dracula - could totally see that for Snape.
No one will top Alan Rickman, but Bananamatch would do well

I think my only reservation to the remake is because I saw the movies so many times, and now I’m reading the books and it’s impossible to not see the actors from the OG series in my head.
Evansly
Evansly - 2/24/2024, 11:45 AM
I'm apprehensive about it. Growing up reading the books as they came out was certainly a blast. The movies definitely had their misses but did a great job overall. Except the one that is dark for most of the movie, it was good but I couldn't see shit.
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 2/24/2024, 11:45 AM
Good on her for truly being pro-women.

Plus, she's got that [frick] you money and still stands on business. 😁
Saga
Saga - 2/24/2024, 12:07 PM
@EskimoJ - no matter how hard they cry the sjw Will never bring her down, love her
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 2/24/2024, 4:47 PM
@Saga - lol she is literally rebooting the series because her Fantastic Beasts movie bombed the original cast of Harry Potter do not like her.
dracula
dracula - 2/25/2024, 2:49 AM
@TheSuperMex - but hogwarts legacy was a big success (despite attempts to boycott and spoil)
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/24/2024, 11:48 AM
I still find doing this odd since the original films are still relatively fresh in people’s minds but it’s happening so i hope it turns out well.

This franchise is close to my heart and needs a win imo…

I didn’t dislike the Fantastic Beasts franchise as much as some (though I wasn’t a big fan either) but between that & the controversies around J.K , I want this series that I grew up with and have a deep love for to have its former glory restored!!.



If Ms Gardiner is indeed the showrunner , I wish her the best of luck…

She also wrote for & worked on HBO’s “His Dark Materials (which I haven’t seen but heard good things about) so that experience could help her here since that occupies a same genre space as HP.
Saga
Saga - 2/24/2024, 11:52 AM
No excuse this time, Jared Harris as Dumbledore and Benedict Cumberbatch as Voldemort!!
CerealKiller1
CerealKiller1 - 2/24/2024, 12:44 PM
@Saga - Damn, never considered Jared Harris taking up his Fathers role….that’s a good shout!
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 2/24/2024, 11:53 AM
I'm glad J.K Rowling has a major hand on this. That's reassuring.

Also, this will be 15 years after The Deathly Hallows, so it seems appropriate.
BatmanBeenDrinking
BatmanBeenDrinking - 2/24/2024, 2:39 PM
@DarthAlgar - I don't know how much having her there will benefit the show. She had a big hand on the fantastic beasts and those were rough and the last was a huge bomb.
DarthAlgar
DarthAlgar - 2/24/2024, 4:07 PM
@BatmanBeenDrinking - What I mean is in terms of any possible political BS in the upcoming series.
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 2/24/2024, 4:47 PM
@DarthAlgar - she had a major hand in the Fantastic Beats and they were bad minus the first one.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/24/2024, 11:58 AM
Wonder if S1 will be set in 2026 as well then, and S2 in 27, S3 in 28, etc. With seven books, I'm guessing they're gonna do a book adaptation a year so they cast can age appropriately.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 2/24/2024, 12:01 PM
Anything past this year announced by WB should be taken with a grain of salt. WB is about to be sold so there is no guarantee the new owners will like her direction 💁
TheJester187
TheJester187 - 2/24/2024, 12:17 PM
Trash! Waste of time and money. Never cared for this shit. Syfy plays all these enough already. Long as bs movies. Do nothin for me. Watching some lol ass kids.
clornelas
clornelas - 2/24/2024, 12:26 PM
Fun fact: by the time season 7 rolls around, the original trio will be almost perfect age for the epilogue.
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 2/24/2024, 1:18 PM
"Rowling has become a highly divisive figure over the past few years due to her views on gender..."

Yes. Let's continue to vilify her because basic genetic/biological/anatomical facts that are now subject to being denied.

(And please stop deleting this particular post CBM. This is the second time I've had to re-post it. Thank you.)
MrDandy
MrDandy - 2/24/2024, 1:51 PM
Yay. Another pointless remake
BeNice123
BeNice123 - 2/24/2024, 2:27 PM
We need Trans characters, more black characters, more asian characters, Harry potter has to be gay!!! SMGDH!!!
Batmangina
Batmangina - 2/24/2024, 4:45 PM
When will JK learn the best woman for the job is a man tucking his lady weenis down under?

She's a transphobic monster.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 2/24/2024, 5:48 PM
This comments section is a treasure trove
Pakent
Pakent - 2/24/2024, 9:17 PM
We need a nonbinary Ron Weasley
xstryker
xstryker - 2/25/2024, 5:39 AM
Hard pass

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder