Warner Bros. has officially rebranded HBO Max as Max and perhaps the biggest announcement (first shared on SFFGazette.com) is that the streamer has ordered an original Harry Potter scripted television series.
Rumours about these plans have persisted for months, and it's said that the show will deliver a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer, J.K. Rowling. From Warner Bros. Television, the new Max Original series will be available on Max in the U.S. and globally once produced.
The stories from each of Rowling's Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series (which presumably means we're getting a total of 10 seasons in order to do the longer books justice) produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for.
The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years.
The press release states that each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world. The original, classic and beloved films, meanwhile, will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.
"We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way," Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content, said today. "Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World."
"In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years."
Rowling adds, "Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series."
J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts will executive produce this Harry Potter TV series, while franchise veteran David Heyman is currently in talks to take on the same role.
It's exciting to think that we're getting a new take on Harry Potter, especially when those original movies are so iconic. With any luck, we'll learn more about what to expect soon (including how this adaptation will differ from the last one).