Warner Bros. Discovery leaders are calling the new Harry Potter TV series a potentially massive hit, predicting it will be the biggest streaming event of the next ten years. They shared this expectation during a recent announcement about expanding HBO Max into Europe.
JB Perrette, who leads global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, made the announcement during a press event for the launch of HBO Max in the UK and Ireland.
Perrette described the series as a key part of the company’s plans for the future of streaming. He believes it will be crucial for gaining and keeping viewers as they compete with other streaming services around the world.
Perette’s Statements
After touring the Leavesden Studios in London, Perette shared his thoughts, noting he was very impressed with the production.
Wow, this production is just on another level. The sheer scale of it, and the incredible attention to detail they’ve put into building this world… it really elevates what you expect from a TV show. What’s so exciting is that with a series, they can really dig deeper into the story and explore all those little corners that a two-hour movie just doesn’t allow. Casey Bloys, the head of HBO Max, might not love me saying this, but I honestly believe this is the streaming event of the decade. It’s that good.
He explained that the series will be able to explore more, with each book having an entire season.
According to Perette, the upcoming series is expected to be the largest event ever on HBO Max, and potentially the biggest streaming event of all time, far surpassing anything else currently available.
Background on the Television Adaptation
In April 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced a new Harry Potter television series as part of an update to its streaming service. The series will cover all seven of J.K. Rowling’s books, with each book being adapted into its own season.
Warner Bros. Discovery envisions this show as a major, ongoing project meant to last for many years – potentially even a decade or more. HBO is backing the series, fitting with their strategy of creating shows that run for multiple seasons.
Production Timeline and Creative Team
As a huge fan of HBO, I’m really excited about this new series! From what I’ve heard, it’s currently slated to arrive in 2027. What’s even better is that Francesca Gardiner, who’s done great work with HBO before, is running the show, and Mark Mylod – another HBO veteran – is directing several episodes. It sounds like it’s in really capable hands!
Okay, so the casting news finally dropped, and I’m pretty excited! Dominic McLaughlin is taking on the role of Harry Potter, which is huge. Arabella Stanton will be Hermione, and Alastair Stout is Ron – a solid trio, if you ask me. And get this – John Lithgow is going to be Dumbledore! That’s a fantastic choice, I think he’ll absolutely nail it.
Let’s talk casting, because it’s been a bit of a hot topic. The biggest pushback seems to be around the decision to have Paapa Essiedu take on the role of Severus Snape. A lot of longtime fans are really debating it, and I get why. Snape is such a vividly described character in the books, and Alan Rickman was Snape for so many of us. The argument is that changing his appearance so drastically feels like a departure from what’s been established, both on the page and on screen.
Those who support the casting choices see it as a new and creative interpretation for this adaptation. This disagreement highlights a larger debate about how closely the upcoming HBO series will follow the original stories as it brings the Wizarding World to television.
Legacy of the Film Franchise
The first Harry Potter movie was released in 2001, and the series continued with eight films over the next decade, concluding in 2011. These films earned over $7.7 billion at the box office worldwide.
Currently, in early February 2026, what company leaders say publicly is still the main way we know what to expect from the project.
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2026-02-10 23:57