Harry Potter is coming back to cast his spell on our screens, with HBO Max confirming a magical new TV series is in the works.
There aren't many details about what the show will entail, but what we do know is this: There will be a brand-new cast and HBO Max is planning to turn each of the seven books into a whole season of the popular fantasy series.
That's right, they're planning to make the show run for a whopping ten years. The series is described as a "faithful retelling" of the books by J.K. Rowling.
Apparently, Warner CEO David Zaslav and HBO head Casey Bloys “worked to convince Rowling” on the series for a number of years, Bloomberg reported last week.
While the show hopes to celebrate and honour Rowling's original source material, the author will "not run the show day to day or serve as its primary creator", it is reported.
"Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally," the official blurb reads.
"We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way," says HBO CEO Casey Bloys in a statement. "Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World."
Rowling has been criticised over recent years due to her staunch opinions on gender identity. Many fans have lost their magical spark to the franchise, boycotting renditions of the original books (looking at you, Hogwarts Legacy video game).
But HBO Max is crossing its fingers, hoping that viewers will tune in to this series and pave the way for an exciting expansion of the franchise.
The announcement of the new series came as HBO Max rebranded itself, changing its name to 'Max'. Starting May 23, the new USD$16-per-month service will hit America, automatically replacing the existing HBO Max. Still no word yet on when we might get it in New Zealand, but it's set to be rolled out to some Asia Pacific territories next year.
So whether you're a die-hard Potterhead or a newcomer to the series, there is a world of spells, potions, and magical creatures coming to our screens.
I guess I'll be calling in sick on the day of release. Sorry not sorry, boss!
