Harry Potter” Series on Max Likely in 2026: What We Know

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made a groundbreaking announcement during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, revealing that the highly anticipated “Harry Potter” series is set to debut on the Max streaming service in 2026. This marks a significant moment for fans, as it will be the first time the iconic titular character returns to the screen in over a decade, following the conclusion of the last “Harry Potter” movie in 2011.

The journey to bring this series to life began with reports emerging in 2021 of its development. In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery officially confirmed its plans for a “decade-long series,” based on the seven original books by J.K. Rowling. Speculation suggests that each book could potentially span a season, offering viewers a deeper dive into the magical world of “Harry Potter.” This television adaptation is a first for the franchise, which had previously been brought to life through the successful eight-film series produced by Warner Bros.

Fans and critics alike are eager to see how this new series will approach the beloved books. Producer David Heyman hinted at a more faithful adaptation, telling Total Film in 2023 that the series would provide “an opportunity to see the books, and to enjoy a series which explores the books more deeply.”

Despite controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling’s past statements on gender and transgender rights, Warner Bros. Discovery has emphasized her involvement in the series. Rowling’s comments have sparked backlash and calls for boycotts, but Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max, confirmed in 2023 that Rowling would be actively involved in the television project, stating that their focus is on the content itself.

The production is still in the early stages, with casting yet to begin. Warner Bros. Television head Channing Dungey revealed to Variety in January that they are in discussions with several writers to find the right showrunner for the project. Deadline reported that Warner Bros. was hearing pitches from experienced writers, indicating a commitment to finding the perfect vision for the series.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to pursue the “Harry Potter” series comes after the mixed reception of the “Fantastic Beasts” prequel films. While these movies attempted to expand the wizarding world, they failed to capture the same magic as the original series. Despite this, Warner Bros. Discovery remains hopeful, with plans to also revive the “Lord of the Rings” franchise with new movies, signaling a dedication to revitalizing beloved fantasy worlds on both the small and big screens.

In a separate development, Warner Bros. Discovery’s shares experienced a significant drop of over 9% in intraday trading following Zaslav’s announcement of a net revenue loss of about $400 million in the fourth quarter of the past fiscal year.