HBO Begins Filming New Harry Potter Series With Major Cast Changes

The new Harry Potter series, produced by HBO and expected to launch around 2027, is undergoing extensive casting and preparation, with several key adult roles recast with younger actors to align more closely with the original JK Rowling novels. Notable cast members include Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as the Dursleys, Leo Prat as Draco Malfoy, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, alongside confirmed leads Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout as Harry, Hermione, and Ron respectively. Production is set to begin in summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where a massive expansion is underway, including a £1 billion mini-town with a Tudor-style Privet Drive, a school for the child actors, and facilities for live animals to enhance authenticity. Meanwhile, Tom Felton, known for playing Draco Malfoy in the original films, is set to return to the role in the Broadway play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," sparking speculation about a potential film adaptation of the play. The series aims to explore more of Hogwarts' daily life and is being developed closely with JK Rowling's support despite past controversies. Overall, HBO's significant investment and detailed production efforts highlight the network's confidence in the series becoming a major success.