HBO finally sets Harry Potter TV series release date as JK Rowling meets with studio

A date for Harry Potter's return to the screen has been set.

While some Potterheads wept at the news it wouldn't be Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint returning to the screen for the Harry Potter TV series, others jumped for joy at another opportunity to be transported back to Hogwarts.

HBO Max - now known simply as Max - confirmed it had ordered the series with a brand new cast back in April, 2023. And the streaming service has since revealed when we can expect the series to grace our screens.

News of a potential Harry Potter series first broke in January 2021, however it wasn't until early last year Max confirmed it was going ahead with it at the Warner Bros. Discovery presentation.

Each season of the series is anticipated as being based on one of JK Rowling's seven Harry Potter books so it's no surprise the series is expected to last nearly a decade.

Casey Bloys, CEO of HBO and Max Content, said at the time: "We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way. 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 - who's been made an executive producer on the series despite the controversy enshrouding her as a result of comments she's made about the transgender community - added: "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."

But when will the series be hitting our TV screens?

Warner Bros.

Well, earlier today (February 23) during Warner Bros. Discovery's Q4 earnings meeting call, CEO David Zaslav said the first instalment is currently set for release onto Max in 2026, as quoted by Variety.

He added he met with Rowling - alongside HBO's Bloys and chairperson of Warner Bros. Television Channing Dungey - in London several weeks ago.

Zaslav resolved: "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."

Topics: Daniel Radcliffe, Film and TV, HBO, Harry Potter, JK Rowling

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.