HBO announces £1.6 billion Harry Potter TV series with J.K. Rowling as executive producer

HBO has announced a £1.6 billion, ten-year TV adaptation of the Harry Potter series, with J.K. Rowling as an executive producer. This follows significant backlash against her views on transgender issues, which have sparked calls for boycotts. Despite previous criticism from actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, both have expressed support for the new series. Thousands of children have auditioned for key roles, with filming expected to start in spring 2025. The series will air on HBO's streaming service Max in 2026. Each of the ten seasons will have a budget of around £159 million, and the production aims to film back-to-back to maintain the cast's ages.