Chris Columbus, director of the original Harry Potter films, has praised HBO's upcoming reboot series as a "spectacular idea," believing its episodic format will allow for a more faithful adaptation of the books. Speaking to People, Columbus explained the limitations imposed by the relatively short runtimes of Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. He stated that while the team "tried to get as much of the book in as possible," the films' length inherently restricted the amount of source material they could include.
"I think it's a spectacular idea because there’s a certain restriction when you’re making a film," Columbus said. "Our film was two hours and 40 minutes, and the second one was almost as long. The fact that they have the leisure of multiple episodes for each book, I think that's fantastic. You can get all the stuff in the series that we didn't have an opportunity to do... All these great scenes that we just couldn't put in the films."
Announced in April 2023, the Harry Potter series promises a "faithful adaptation" of the novels, aiming for a more in-depth narrative than a two-hour film could achieve. Succession producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod are attached to direct and write, with Mylod also having worked on Game of Thrones.
HBO is currently casting the lead roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Regarding the role of Dumbledore, original Sirius Black actor Gary Oldman jokingly suggested his age now makes him a suitable candidate, two decades after his Prisoner of Azkaban debut. However, reports suggest actor and playwright Mark Rylance is a top contender for the Hogwarts headmaster, maintaining the original films' focus on British actors. This is perhaps unsurprising given J.K. Rowling's reported involvement in the casting process.
Filming for the Harry Potter TV series is expected to commence in spring 2025, with HBO aiming for a 2026 release.
