As of July 14, 2025, cameras are officially rolling at Leavesden Studios in the UK, marking the start of production on the long-awaited Harry Potter TV series.
Produced by HBO with J.K. Rowling on board as executive producer, this ambitious reboot promises to dive deep into the seven-book saga, exploring details and storylines that couldn’t be fully captured in the original films. Here’s what Canadian fans need to know.
When will the Harry Potter series be released?
Canadian wizards will have to wait until late 2026 or early 2027 for the first episode, according to Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer at HBO/Max. The timeline reflects the massive scale of the production, which is set to unfold over a full decade to cover the entire saga. This creative marathon will see each season tackle one book, though with a flexible format that goes beyond the simple “one book = one season” approach.
Who’s in the cast of the new Harry Potter series?
The main trio has been officially announced:
Dominic McLaughlin will take on the role of Harry Potter.
Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley.
Arabella Stanton has been cast as Hermione Granger.
Why cast newcomers? Much like the original films, the production held open auditions in the UK for children aged 9 to 11 — a strategy designed to ensure the characters age naturally throughout the seasons.
As for the Hogwarts faculty, some high-profile names are now confirmed:
John Lithgow (known from The Crown) will play Albus Dumbledore — reportedly a “definitive” role to close out his career, despite being 87 by the end of filming.
Janet McTeer will step into the role of Minerva McGonagall.
Paapa Essiedu has been cast as Severus Snape.
Nick Frost (celebrated for Shaun of the Dead) is reportedly set to play Rubeus Hagrid, having teased on Instagram: “It’s happening.”
The supporting cast and villains are equally compelling:
Lox Pratt will play Draco Malfoy, Bertie Carvel is set to portray Cornelius Fudge, and Katherine Parkinson joins as Molly Weasley — rounding out a proudly British ensemble.
When does filming for the Harry Potter series begin?
Filming began on July 14, 2025, at Leavesden Studios, the historic home of the original films. The production is led by a prestigious creative team:
Francesca Gardiner (Succession, His Dark Materials) serves as showrunner,
Mark Mylod (Succession) directs the first episodes.
Their goal? To explore “Hogwarts like never before,” bringing to life details missing from the films — such as the characters’ youth (the Dursleys are in their 30s, and Lily and James die at 21). Set and costume design are entrusted to Oscar-winner Holly Waddington (Poor Creatures), while visual effects are handled by Framestore, the studio behind the cinematic universe — all promising a stunning visual experience.
Where can you watch the Harry Potter series in Canada?
This is crucial information for Canadian fans: the series will be exclusively available on the Crave platform. This exclusivity is part of the longstanding agreement between Warner Bros. Discovery and Bell Media in Canada. Crave, which now combines a vast range of content from the merged HBO Max and Discovery+ catalogs, remains the go-to destination for premium Warner/HBO content in the country.
Canadian subscribers will therefore need to turn to Crave to watch every episode of this new Hogwarts adventure. This strategy underscores the priority given to streaming for major projects, although targeted broadcasts on the group’s linear channels could potentially follow later.
Where can you watch the Harry Potter movies in the meantime?
While waiting for the big return to the small screen, Canadian fans eager to revisit the magical world of the original eight films have good news: the entire Harry Potter saga is currently available to stream on Crave. The platform remains the ultimate digital destination to relive the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione ahead of the series premiere.
A high-stakes revival for Harry Potter
While Chris Columbus, director of the first two films, praises the series as the “ideal format to capture the spirit of the books,” Daniel Radcliffe has firmly ruled out any involvement, stating, “They want to start fresh, with no cameo from the old Harry.” This deliberate choice by HBO signals a clear break with the past.
With a massive budget, 32,000 children auditioned, and the looming legacy of the films, the series represents a high-risk—but necessary—bet for Warner. CEO David Zaslav views Harry Potter as an “undervalued jewel” following the relative disappointment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
In Canada, where the fanbase is enormous, Crave is banking on this magical decade-long project to compete against Netflix and Disney+. The promise? A “faithful and deep dive” into the books, as demanded by J.K. Rowling. Whether the potion will succeed remains to be seen — the answer will come in late 2026 or 2027.
