HBO Shares Spellbinding Casting Update on Harry Potter TV Series

2 months ago 79

‘Harry Potter’ TV Show: Everything You Need to Know About the New Series

Accio Harry Potter cast details. 

HBO shared insight into the casting process of its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation after speculation began swirling that John Lithgow—who's starred in shows like Dexter, as well as movies such as Conclave and Interstellar—was in final negotiations to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in the series, which is expected to hit screens in 2026. 

“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” HBO said in a Feb. 12 statement to Deadline. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”

E! News reached out to HBO and a rep for Lithgow for comment but has not heard back. 

And while HBO didn't confirm whether the role of Dumbledore—previously played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the 2001-2011 film franchise—has been filled, the network has shared several other magical details about the high-profile J.K. Rowling adaptation, which was designed to run for over a decade.

For one, Francesca Gardiner—who's previously written for dramas including His Dark Materials and The Rook—created the series and will serve as its showrunner.  

Meanwhile, Mark Mylod—who's behind the 2022 psychological thriller The Menu—will direct and executive produce the show. 

And fans of the book will be especially pleased with HBO's take on the franchise, as the producers announced in a 2023 press release that it will be a "faithful adaptation" of Rowling's novels.

Photo by Murray Close/ Getty Images

As for whether film series cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert GrintTom Felton and Ralph Fiennes will be returning to Hogwarts in some capacity? Radcliffe doesn't want muggles to get their hopes up

"I think they very wisely want to [have] a clean break," he told E! News in May. "And I don't know if it would work to have us do anything in it." 

Radcliffe continued, "I'm very happy to just watch along with everyone else."

But that doesn't mean the door is completely closed on him re-entering the wizarding world. After all, the 35-year-old remained coy when asked exactly how he'd respond if HBO did ask him to make an appearance. 

"I'm gonna be a politician about this," he quipped, "and not deal in hypotheticals."

Can't wait for Harry Potter to hit TV screens in 2026? Read on for shows set to premiere this year...

FOX

Extracted (Fox) - Feb. 10

Twelve families and amateur survivalists embark on a treacherous adventure in the wild in an attempt to win $250,000.

Netflix

Surviving Black Hawk Down (Netflix) - Feb. 10

Surviving Black Hawk Down tells the gripping real story of the horror and heroism behind the events that inspired Ridley Scott’s blockbuster movie Black Hawk Down, blending raw, immersive storytelling with first-person interviews from both sides of The Battle of Mogadishu.

Bravo

Summer House (Bravo) - Feb. 12

Returning this summer unsure of where everyone stands, these housemates find themselves bonding over a growing wombmate and determined to get back to the carefree group that loves to send it. Nine favorites return to the Hamptons, along with two fresh faces ready to have some fun in the sun.

Michael Becker/FOX

The Masked Singer (Fox) - Feb. 12

The celebrity singing competition series returns for season 13.

Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Yellowjackets (Showtime) - Feb. 14

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Netflix

Love Is Blind (Netflix) - Feb. 14

The hit reality series is back for an eighth season, following a new set of singles from Minnesota—all ready to cut through the static of modern dating and forge authentic relationships, sight unseen. This season, the singles form deep and immediate connections, setting the stage for an unexpected journey full of twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will test each relationship well after the participants leave the pods for the real world.

Fabio Lovino/HBO

The White Lotus (HBO) - Feb. 16

Season three is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.

Oxygen/NBCUniversal

Fatal Family Feuds (Oxygen) - Feb. 16

Fatal Family Feuds explores how a minor family disagreement could transform into a deadly altercation. The show delves into cases where a person lost their life at the hands of someone they should have been able to trust the most, their family. Each episode focuses on a different family, dissecting how exactly a disagreement with their nearest and dearest results in a callous murder. As the story of the feud unfolds, experience the twists, turns, red herrings and revelations within each case until the perpetrator is caught and the feud comes to a just conclusion.

NBCUniversal

Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special (NBC) - Feb. 16

SNL celebrates its historic milestone with a look back at half a decade of epic sketches and guests.

TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery

90 Day Fiancé (TLC) - Feb. 16

The new season captures the riveting journeys of intercultural couples—Americans and their foreign fiancés—as they navigate the thrilling complexities of love, cultural differences, and societal pressures. With just 90 days to wed before their K1 visas expire, these couples must overcome significant hurdles or face the heartbreaking reality of separation. 

This season features three exciting new pairs, three returning couples from previous franchises and its first-ever throuple.

FOX

Family Guy (Fox) - Feb. 16

Season 23 will parody Top Gun, which will chronicle Peter/Maverick getting together with Lois/Charlie, the tragic death of Joe/Goose, and Peter/Maverick’s blooming relationship with Chris/Rooster. Additionally, this season, Peter runs into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at a brewery tour, Lois becomes a stand-up comedian and Meg starts dating a chicken she meets on a reality dating show.

20th Television/Fox Media

The Great North (Fox) - Feb. 16

Season the season five premiere, Wolf finally gets cast on the local Alaskan survival show Dropped Off To Die, but when he’s out early, his shame leads him to sneak home and hide on the Tobin property instead in “The Prince of Hides Adventure” episode of The Great North.

Fox Media

Krapopolis (Fox) - Feb. 16

The animated comedy returns with new episodes this February.

Fox Media

Grimsburg (Fox) - Feb. 16

On the season two premiere, Harmony (Erinn Hayes) pushes Flute (Jon Hamm) to move out, resulting in him moving into a house haunted by a doting housewife. Things soon go awry when Flute invites everyone for an adult party at his house, and Flute's disregard of the ghost prompts her to threaten their lives in the all-new “Haunted Housewife” episode of Grimsburg.

HBO/MAX/TNT Sports

We Beat the Dream Team (HBO/MAX) - Feb. 17

The documentary reveals the little-known story of a group of college basketball players who were tasked with preparing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and the rest of the legendary “Dream Team” for their Olympic debut in 1992. In an unexpected twist, the college team shocked the NBA superstars by defeating them in a scrimmage – an outcome that ultimately helped propel the Dream Team to gold.

Investigation Discovery

Who Is Luigi Mangione? (Investigation Discovery) - Feb. 17

Investigation Discovery is set to premiere an hour-long special delving into the psyche of alleged United Healthcare CEO assassin. With commentary from experts throughout, including executive producer Dan Abrams, criminologist Casey Jordan, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, as well as Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, the special aims to unpack Mangione’s background and track his trajectory to understand what led him to land behind bars. Through narration of his digital archives, including his own online posts and Reddit discussions, those close to Mangione bring comprehensive insight into his personality, health struggles and chronic pain, offering a deeper understanding of his mental state leading up to the alleged crime

Amazon MGM Studios

Reacher (Prime Video) - Feb. 20

Based on Lee Child’s novel Persuader, in the third season of the action-packed series, Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out. There he finds a world of secrecy and violence—and confronts some unfinished business from his own past. 

Hulu/Disney

A Thousand Blows (Hulu) - Feb. 21

From Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the period drama is set in the perilous world of illegal boxing in 1880s Victorian London and based on little explored real-life characters with incredible stories.

AppleTV+

Onside: Major League Soccer (AppleTV+) - Feb. 21

Apple TV+ and Major League Soccer’s eight-part panoramic documentary event explores the electrifying moments and captivating stories that power Major League Soccer.

Hulu

Chris Distefano: It's Just Unfortunate (Hulu) - Feb. 21

Chris Distefano is trying to be the best father he can be but nowadays, words speak louder than actions – so Chris is acting with the right intentions, but not always the right moves.

Steve Swisher/NBC

Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC) - Feb. 23

Grosse Pointe Garden Society follows four members of a suburban garden club who find their lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and a shared secret – a murder no one wants to talk about. As dark truths begin to rot their lives under the surface, they struggle to remain as perfect as the flowers blooming in their garden above.

Lo Smith/Paramount+

1923 (Paramount+) - Feb. 23

In the second season of 1923, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch. With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.

NBCUniversal

Suits: LA (NBC) - Feb. 23

Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives. All of this is going on while we slowly unravel the events that years ago led Ted to leave behind everything and everyone he loved.

The series stars Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt and Bryan Greenberg.

Paramount Network

Bar Rescue (Paramount Network) - Feb. 23

Known for his tough-love approach, Jon Taffer travels nationwide to rescue bars and restaurants on the verge of closure, delivering dramatic transformations, high-stakes decisions, and inspiring turnarounds. Along the way, he takes on raw emotions, intense confrontations, and fresh challenges across diverse cities, all with the goal of saving local businesses.

Nick Garbutt/BBC Studios

The Americas (NBC) - Feb. 23

The Americas showcases the wonders, secrets and fragilities of the world’s greatest supercontinent. For the first time, the Americas stars in its own incomparable series, using cutting-edge technology to uncover never-before-seen behavior, and highlight the extraordinary, untold wildlife stories that will deeply connect with millions around the world. Five years in the making and filmed over 180 expeditions, this groundbreaking series reveals the spectacular landscapes of Earth’s most varied landmass – the only one to stretch between both poles. 

TLC/Warner Media

The Baldwins (TLC) - Feb. 23

The new reality series offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the lives of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin and their seven children.

In the season premiere, Alec and Hilaria celebrate their oldest son Rafael’s ninth birthday and, in a bid to escape the noise of the city, they head to East Hampton to continue a yearly summer tradition. But in the midst of celebration is uncertainty as Alec faces trial. Alec and Hilaria navigate the emotional complexities of the moment, all while keeping their children’s lives as stable as possible.

CBS Studios/NAACP Venture/Paramount

Behind the Gates (CBS) - Feb. 24

The new daytime drama is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you’ll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home.

At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those who live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have “made it” and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.

Hulu/Disney

Shoresy (Hulu) - Feb. 26

Shoresy (Jared Keeso) explores life after hockey, and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs contend with the distractions of summer in Sudbury.

Season four debuts Feb. 26.

Hulu

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (Hulu) - Feb. 27

When popular vlogger Ruby Franke is arrested for child abuse in August 2023, it quickly becomes one of the biggest trending stories in America. For years, the Frankes’ YouTube channel had documented a wholesome, happy family life, with 2.5 million subscribers tuning in at its peak. But happy families are rarely what they seem.

As the cracks began to show, the family turned to counselor Jodi Hildebrandt for guidancem - and rapidly found themselves trapped in a nightmare. Only the Frankes know what went on inside their home.

Netflix

Toxic Town (Netflix) - Feb. 27

Based on the real-life story of one of the U.K.’s biggest environmental scandals, Toxic Town is the story of the people at the heart of the Corby poisonings. Focusing on the mothers, who took on a David and Goliath battle for justice, the series traces through the years of their fight as a terrible truth comes to the surface.

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