Production is ramping up on HBO’s long-anticipated Harry Potter television series, which will adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven-book saga into a season-per-book format. Filming is expected to begin in summer 2025, and the series will premiere exclusively on Max in 2026.
This week, the first unofficial look at the set surfaced online. Leaker UnBoxPHD posted what appears to be a partial build of Privet Drive, the suburban neighborhood in Little Whinging, Surrey, that serves as the childhood home of Harry Potter and the residence of the Dursley family.
Privet Drive is known for its uniform, boxy houses with neatly trimmed gardens and a sense of rigid normalcy. Number Four, the Dursleys’ home, is one of the most iconic non-magical locations in the Harry Potter universe.
The show has been in development since at least 2021 but faced delays due to rights negotiations and internal restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery. The project was formally greenlit in 2023 as part of Warner Bros.’ strategy to prioritize its core franchises, including Harry Potter and DC properties.
Casting for the series is currently underway. John Lithgow is set to portray Albus Dumbledore, a decision that has drawn attention due to his American background. British actors Paapa Essiedu and Janet McTeer are reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall, respectively.
The series will be released on the Max streaming platform, with each season focusing on one of the seven original novels.
