It's easy to forget how much can change in the media landscape. Back in late 2025, just as the HBO Harry Potter series was getting off the ground, whispers circulated that Netflix might be looking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. For fans eagerly awaiting a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's books, this news could have been unsettling.

The original article, published around December 2025, discussed how Netflix was reportedly a strong contender to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. While this could have had major implications for the Harry Potter franchise's future, it's clear now that those talks, or at least any resulting acquisition, did not come to pass in a way that impacted our beloved wizarding world's new screen home.

Thankfully, the HBO Original series is moving full steam ahead as a Warner Bros. Discovery project. Filming for the first season officially started in the summer of 2025 at Leavesden Studios and is expected to wrap by mid-2026. This confirms that the series remains firmly within the Warner Bros. Discovery family, as always planned.

We know the show is set for an early 2027 release, spanning seven seasons over a ten-year production cycle, with each season covering one book. Francesca Gardiner is on board as showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes, and the legendary Hans Zimmer scoring the series. Executive producers include J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman.

Even better, the cast has been announced, featuring Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron. John Lithgow is set to play Albus Dumbledore, while Paapa Essiedu takes on Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer will portray Minerva McGonagall. Other confirmed cast members include Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Luke Thallon as Professor Quirrell, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge. The production team aims for a truly faithful adaptation, delving deeper into storylines and maintaining the characters' original book ages.

So, while the idea of Netflix taking over Harry Potter might have been a brief blip on the radar, the real magic is happening right where it's supposed to: at HBO, under the Warner Bros. Discovery banner, with a fantastic team bringing Hogwarts to life once more.