Harry Potter TV series renewed for season 2 at HBO – as major star addresses Voldemort casting rumours

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HBO has already renewed its upcoming Harry Potter TV series for a second season, even before the first episode airs. This move is designed to shorten the wait between seasons for viewers.

The series plans to cover each book in the Harry Potter saga over a full season, so the next season will focus on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Filming will start again in the fall. Jon Brown, who wrote for season 1 and also worked on The Franchise and Succession, will now be a co-showrunner, working with Francesca Gardiner. This change will help manage the show’s busy and complex filming schedule.

Gardiner announced that adding a co-showrunner is essential for keeping the show on track and continuing its success.

The comment subtly acknowledges worries that the actors – Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton – might age at a rate faster than their characters in the show.

I’ve always enjoyed working with Jon, starting with our time on Succession and continuing now on Harry Potter. I deeply admire his writing, but he’s also a fantastic teammate and a genuinely kind person.

Brown said writing the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ was a wonderful experience. She expressed gratitude to Francesca and HBO for trusting her with continuing the story, and playfully noted that it’s never too late to receive a Hogwarts invitation.

Everyone is still guessing who will play Lord Voldemort in the new series, and Ralph Fiennes, who originally played the character, has recently said he’s unlikely to reprise the role.

Most likely, a new actor will take on the role, following the trend with the rest of the Harry Potter cast. Recent suggestions for who could play the part include Cillian Murphy, Tilda Swinton, and Paul Bettany.

Paul Bettany, famous for his roles as JARVIS and Vision in the Marvel movies, recently talked about whether he’d take on another character needing a lot of special effects makeup. In an interview tied to the US release of his new show, ‘Amadeus,’ he said he’s hesitant to do another role that would require such extensive work.

He sadly confirmed it was just a rumour. He added that he couldn’t imagine dealing with more artificial body parts, as he’d already had many. He joked that maybe in the future they could recreate his nose using AI, but no one had even suggested it.

“We’re talking about it as if anybody’s interested in hiring me… they’re just not!”

During the same conversation, Will Sharpe, who also stars in the show, added that he believes Bettany would be a great fit for the villain. Ultimately, though, we’ll have to wait to find out who the show’s creators choose for the part.

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JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has received criticism from some people because of her opinions on the rights of transgender people.

I remember when she released that long statement back in 2020, explaining her views on sex and gender. It really sparked a lot of debate, and honestly, some LGBTQ+ charities like Stonewall strongly disagreed with what she said and came out with criticisms.

J.K. Rowling has expressed her opinions on social media, most recently in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter). In that post, she stated that she does not believe in the concept of transgender children and argued against the idea that someone’s gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

In May 2025, J.K. Rowling created the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which provides financial support for legal cases related to women’s rights based on biological sex.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and other stars from the Harry Potter films have spoken out to support the transgender community and have made it clear they disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on the topic.

Several actors, such as Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jim Broadbent, have spoken out to support the author and defend her against the recent criticism.

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The Harry Potter series is set to premiere on HBO in the US and HBO Max internationally on December 25, 2026. In the UK, you can subscribe to HBO Max starting at £5.99 per month.

Want to know what to watch? Download the TopMob: What to Watch app today for daily TV recommendations, features, and to add Harry Potter to your watchlist!

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows on television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-05-07 15:36