HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Is Making Already Startling Changes – Here’s What We Know

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Production on HBO’s new Harry Potter series is underway, and after several months of filming, some key changes from the books have already been confirmed. While shooting began this past summer, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see the fantasy series debut. Originally, it was planned for a 2025 release, but HBO’s busy schedule – which includes two Game of Thrones prequels and the Lanterns series for the DC Universe – likely means there isn’t room for another big fantasy show until then.

The upcoming HBO remake of Harry Potter faces a challenge because of the controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling, potentially alienating some fans. However, many people still enjoy the books and movies and may be open to the new series. The success of the remake will depend on whether HBO can create something that feels both new and true to the original stories – a delicate balance all remakes try to achieve.

Dumbledore Trudges Along the Shore & Meets With Nicolas Flamel


Warner Bros. 

Turning a short book into a full season of HBO television is difficult, and to add length, the show is including more scenes focused on the teachers. Photos of John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore quickly circulated online, and fans loved that he looked exactly as many imagined the famous wizard. However, these images were puzzling, because the original book, The Sorcerer’s Stone (also known as The Philosopher’s Stone), doesn’t feature scenes like that.

As a huge Harry Potter fan, I’ve been following all the online chatter, and it’s fascinating! A lot of us are thinking these new scenes with John Lithgow – especially his meetings with Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel – might be expanding on a part of the story Dumbledore only hinted at in the books. Though, it’s worth noting things look different – the settings and even Dumbledore’s clothes aren’t quite what I pictured. Another thought is that, since HBO has already approved the whole series, they might be filming scenes for later seasons now, getting ahead of the game.

‘Harry Potter’ Has a Scene Set on Halloween Night


Warner Bros.

While not officially confirmed, strong evidence suggests a significant new element is being added to the series. What is confirmed is that the Harry Potter TV show filmed a Halloween scene featuring costumed trick-or-treaters in a typical neighborhood, complete with vintage cars.

For fans of Harry Potter, Halloween night is a particularly important date. It marks October 31, 1981 – the night Lord Voldemort went to Godric’s Hollow and killed James and Lily Potter. This event is only described in the books and shown briefly in the films, so showing the whole scene would be a major change in the series’ overall mood. If filmed as described, it could be genuinely terrifying. It’s difficult to imagine what else the filmmakers could have been shooting that night.

Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy Have Been Cast


Warner Bros.

Both Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy are talked about in the first Harry Potter book, but they don’t actually show up until the second one. Movie fans will likely remember Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy – his performance, especially in Dobby’s storyline, made him a major villain in the second film and a recurring character throughout the series. It’s surprising to realize he wasn’t in the first book at all. Similarly, Cornelius Fudge was an important figure early on, but was later replaced as Minister of Magic by Rufus Scrimgeour.

Bertie Carvel, known for his roles in Sherlock and Doctor Who, has joined the HBO remake as Cornelius Fudge. Johnny Flynn (Emma, Ripley) will play Lucius Malfoy. While these characters might only appear briefly in the first season, they’ll help set the stage and hint at future storylines. Considering the larger Harry Potter narrative, introducing them early to establish relationships and the power structure of the wizarding world makes sense.

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2025-10-27 02:28