The whole world is holding its breath in anticipation of the new Harry Potter TV series. The project is already being called one of the most ambitious in television history, and devoted fans of the magical universe are eagerly following any updates.
Despite the love for the original films, many book fans have longed for a more detailed adaptation that would showcase all the plotlines and characters as J.K. Rowling intended. But before diving into the new series, it's important to understand how it will differ from the iconic film saga and what viewers can expect.
One Book, One Season
The key difference from the films is that each book will get its own full season. Max describes the show as a ten-year project, promising a long-term immersion into the magical world. This format will allow a much deeper exploration of events that were previously compressed into the two-hour runtime of the films.
Fans remember that many important details, crucial for understanding the plot, were either missed or changed. For example, the story of Luna Lovegood, more information on the Marauders, and the backstory of Tom Riddle — these elements will be explored in full.
Harry and the Gang Will Be Younger
An important distinction of the new adaptation is that the characters' ages will align more closely with the books. In the original films, the actors were a bit older than their characters. For example, Daniel Radcliffe was 11 when he began playing Harry Potter, which matched the character's age. However, Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape, was 23 years older than his character. The new series will cast actors closer to the canonical ages — if Snape is 31 in the story, the actor will be around that age too.
The Return of Forgotten Characters
The series' writers promise a more faithful adaptation of Rowling's books. This means that characters who were either omitted from the films or reduced to a minimum will appear. For instance, the Hogwarts poltergeist Peeves, who was cut from the movie franchise, will make an appearance in the series. "We’ll have a bit of fun with Peeves in the hallways!" said Max.
There’s also a chance to see scenes with Viktor Krum in The Order of the Phoenix, more development in the relationship between Lavender Brown and Ron, as well as additional screen time for Dobby and Kreacher.
Expanding the Magical World
Despite their impressive special effects, the films couldn't capture the full depth of the wizarding world. The series promises to show new locations, such as the Hogwarts staff room, which we never saw in the films. Viewers can also expect a deeper dive into the Ministry of Magic’s history, behind-the-scenes of the Triwizard Tournament, and even rare magical creatures that were previously left off-screen.
New Cast
In February 2025, it was officially announced that American actor John Lithgow would play Albus Dumbledore. This is the first confirmed casting decision by the creators. The new series will feature an entirely new cast. While it’s unclear who will play the main roles, the producers assure that they will find actors who closely match the descriptions from the books.
Will the Series Be Better Than the Films?
It’s hard to say whether the new adaptation will overshadow the iconic films. Many viewers can’t imagine anyone else in the roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Snape. However, the series is a chance to tell the story with maximum accuracy and show fans everything that didn’t make it into the films.
The premiere of Harry Potter as a TV series is expected in 2026. Until then, fans can rewatch the films and reread the books to prepare for a new journey into the world of magic.
