HBO’s Harry Potter remake isn’t expected to premiere until 2026, but it’s making headway when it comes to casting — and rumors about new actors joining the Wizarding World are already stirring excitement about the upcoming series. Of course, the show will need more than enthusiasm and ties to Warner Bros.’ IP in order to succeed. Although Harry Potter is one of the biggest fantasy franchises currently out there, its popularity has dwindled over time. And the failure of the Fantastic Beasts movies is proof that the series needs more than name recognition to make its mark.
Fortunately, even with many harsh realities facing the Harry Potter remake, there are ways that HBO can ensure its success. Living up to the legacy of the books and movies won’t be easy, but the upcoming project can accomplish it by getting key elements of the story right. From the cast to the portrayal of Hogwarts, there are aspects of Harry Potter that could make or break its reboot. If the series’ creators can nail them, it has a chance at seeing success.
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The Harry Potter Remake Needs An Impressive Cast
It Will Need Great Actors To Compare To The Prior Adaptations
There’s a reason the cast of the Harry Potter remake is such a hot topic of discussion: because it’s among the most important elements of the upcoming show. In part, this is because the Harry Potter movie cast is so iconic that viewers can hardly imagine these characters being played by anyone else. But the story is also incredibly character-driven, so having talented actors on board will ensure the jump from page to screen feels seamless.
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John Lithgow is the only confirmed member of the Harry Potter show’s cast so far — and while an American Dumbledore is a bit surprising, it’s definitely a strong start. The other frontrunners that have been announced, like Janet McTeer as McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Snape, also promise big things. However, getting the Golden Trio right will be the most important task. Hopefully, HBO’s remake is up to it.
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The Harry Potter Show Must Do The Source Material Justice
It Needs To Be Faithful & Only Expand On Things Readers Want More Of
It probably goes without saying, but a huge measure of the Harry Potter show’s success will be how it handles the source material. The movies do a decent job of bringing the books to life, but they leave out quite a few storylines, character details, and battles from the source material. These are things viewers are hoping to see in a remake, which has the opportunity to be more faithful to the Harry Potter books than the prior adaptations — especially now that they’ll have a TV show’s runtime.
Having more space to tell this story also means that HBO’s remake can expand on certain storylines from the books, though it will need to be careful.
Having more space to tell this story also means that HBO’s remake can expand on certain storylines from the books, though it will need to be careful if it chooses to. There are undoubtedly narratives that readers want more of; the Marauders’ backstory and creation of Voldemort’s Horcruxes immediately come to mind. But approaching these parts of the source material with care is crucial to the Harry Potter show succeeding, as any divergences that go too far will likely upset diehard fans.
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HBO’s Reboot Must Be Both Similar To & Different From The Movies
This Is An Additional Balancing Act For The New Harry Potter
All book-to-screen adaptations must balance faithfulness to the source material, but the Harry Potter show has another balancing act to get right. The remake will need to recapture what viewers love about the movies — especially if it’s looking for similar success — but it also needs to set itself apart from the other adaptations. It can’t be too similar or too different. And even if it gets this right, one of the harshest realities the Harry Potter remake must face is that it will still be compared to the films.
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Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter TV reboot has the opportunity to right the wrongs of the movie adaptations and even improve upon the book series.
Being more faithful is one way the upcoming series can stand out, but there are others. Some, like improving on the action sequences and casting more diversely, will be just enough help the series succeed. It can’t go too far, though, or it will feel too different from the Wizarding World to garner mainstream appeal.
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Harry Potter’s Action Needs To Be Handled Well
Battles With An HBO Budget Could Be A Selling Point
Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are proof that an HBO budget lends itself to great action sequences, and that could be a selling point for Harry Potter‘s reboot. The later books in the series have some great action, and the movies don’t always do it justice. The remake can and should fix that, improving on everything from the Battle of the Astronomy Tower to Voldemort and Harry’s final showdown at Hogwarts.
It will help the remake stand out from the films and adapt the books successfully, making it an obvious priority.
Getting the action right will help elevate the upcoming remake and cement its legacy within the fantasy television space. Additionally, it will help the remake stand out from the films and adapt the books successfully, making it an obvious priority.
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The HBO Remake Must Nail The Tone Of The Source Material
The Upcoming TV Show Must Capture The Light & Dark Parts Of The Series
It’s not just the events of the source material the upcoming Harry Potter show must get right; it’s also the tone of the books, which necessitates yet another balancing act. The source material successfully manages to be lighthearted and whimsical while maintaining high stakes and grappling with darker themes. The HBO remake must do the same if it hopes to match the books’ and movies’ success.
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This means balancing the humor and more heartwarming moments with the heavier material from season to season. However, it also means capturing the series’ evolution over time. As Harry and his friends grow up, the story gets increasingly more mature. Viewers should feel that when watching the reboot, as it’s one of Harry Potter‘s greatest strengths.
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The Upcoming Show Must Capture Day-To-Day Life At Hogwarts
It’s Part Of Harry Potter’s Magic
The Harry Potter books paint a compelling picture of day-to-day life at Hogwarts, which is why the Wizarding World is such a beloved and immersive fantasy setting. Everything from Harry’s classes and Quidditch practice to holidays in the castle feels magical. The upcoming show needs to replicate that magic if it wants to draw viewers in.
With a TV medium, the remake will need to go deeper into what Harry’s time there looks like.
Hogwarts is a major part of Harry Potter‘s appeal, and with a TV medium, the remake will need to go deeper into what Harry’s time there looks like. In this case, the smaller details are actually a big deal. Without a faithful portrayal of Hogwarts, it will be incredibly difficult to make everything else fall into place.
Harry Potter
Showrunner
Francisca Gardiner
Directors
Mark Mylod