HBO’s Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson-Less Harry Potter Reboot is Not Going to be a Complete Disaster

Harry Potter is a timeless franchise that will be savored for decades to come. Whether you’re 5, 15, or 50, the books are enough to impress just about anyone, and that’s the magic of Harry Potter. On top of that, the movies are some of the best live-action adaptations out there. All in all, the Wizarding World has made a special place in the fans’ hearts, and no one would like to have that ruined.

However, thirteen years after the release of the last Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two, it was announced that the characters would be coming to the small screen soon. Fans who have grown up with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the rest of the gang, were initially concerned about the television reboot, fearing it might not live up to the success of the original films and books. However, the unveiling of the showrunner and director may help ease these worries.

Harry Potter Television Series Finds its Showrunner and Director

Not much is known about the upcoming series as it is still in the early stages of being a work in progress. All we know is that the Max original series will take its time diving into the details of every book. While some reports stated that every season would focus on a single book from the series, this was proven to be false by Casey Bloys, the Chairman and CEO of Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content who confirmed that the series will run for “ten consecutive years.”

Finally, the series has found its showrunner in Francesca Gardiner, who will also serve as the writer and executive producer. Joining Gardiner is her old friend from Succession Mark Mylod, who will direct a few episodes for the show.

There was a group of creatives who were invited to pitch their respective ideas for the series to Warner Bros. including Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran, and more. Later, Gardiner’s name was added to the list, and Deadline reported that she was amongst the finalists for the job.

So far, there has been no update regarding the casting, but it was made clear that they were looking for “young actors.” Clearly, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and the rest of the actors we loved to see in the films will not be returning to their roles.

Why the Showrunners Should be a Relief for Skeptical Fans

When the series was first announced, it was a given fact that fans were not going to be wholeheartedly accepting of the news. Why? Well, the stories have already had a great adaptation in the form of the eight films, and when someone tries to reboot something so iconic, it doesn’t always go well. You know what they say, don’t fix what’s not broken.

Thus, many were unsure if they should be putting their faith in Max’s series but now that we know that Gardiner and Mylod are involved, fans may have to start altering their opinions and giving the show the benefit of the doubt.

Mylod and Gardiner previously worked on the hit comedy-drama series, Succession, which ran from 2018 to 2023. Both creatives worked as producers on the show, and we all know that Succession is one of the finest works to have hit the television industry.

Apart from Succession, Gardiner has previously worked on many impressive projects, including The Man in the High Castle, The Rook, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve, and more. As for Mylod, he, too, has been a part of many high-profile projects like Shameless, Entourage, and even Game of Thrones, where he directed a total of six episodes.

Mylod is also directing a few episodes for The Last of Us season two, which will be released in 2025.

Needless to say, both creatives have had their hands full with one exceptional project after the other. Now that Warner Bros. has enlisted their help for the Harry Potter series, it seems like the show is in good hands.

Of course, a series is more than who is behind the camera. Everything from the casting to the storyline to the actors’ chemistry has to be pitch-perfect if the series wants to have any chance of competing with the OG. For now, though, Gardiner and Mylod’s involvement seems like a step in the right direction.

The untitled Harry Potter series is slated for a 2026 release.