Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures

Harry Potter and the television series: could a spin-off show be in the works?


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

It's been 10 years since the release of the final film in the Harry Potter franchise, but fans' appetites for more from the wizarding world has not waned.

Luckily, thanks to spin-offs such as the Fantastic Beasts series and the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage show, they've been well served, but rumours of a new television series in the works will be enthusiastically welcomed by Potterheads the world over.

Eddie Redmayne in a scene from 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. The third instalment in the franchise will now be released in cinemas in 2022. AP
Eddie Redmayne in a scene from 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. The third instalment in the franchise will now be released in cinemas in 2022. AP

It has been reported that HBO Max is in the very early stages of discussions exploring a live-action Harry Potter TV series. Rumours of such a show have been swirling for some time, but industry publication Variety has reported that talks are now underway to make it happen, according to industry sources.

Sources add that while talent or writers are yet to be attached to the project, conversations with several writers are taking place. However, after the news was shared, HBO Max released a statement that no such series was in the making.

"There are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform," it said in the joint statement with Warner Bros.

But Variety adds that industry sources reiterated talks were in the "very early stages".

The Harry Potter book series is one of the most popular of all time, having sold more than 500 million copies worldwide across its seven instalments. Eight films and two theme parks later, and it's no wonder that streaming giants would be interested in exploring a series based on the wizarding world, as the streaming wars rage on.

Disney+ and Pixar have announced a number of TV shows to be developed as spin-offs from the ever-popular Star Wars and Marvel universes, while HBO Max is already developing a number of spin-off series from the DC Comic Book world, including a Suicide Squad show, and another based on the Green Lantern.

JK Rowling is the creator of wizarding world of Harry Potter. Getty Images
JK Rowling is the creator of wizarding world of Harry Potter. Getty Images

However, rumours of a Harry Potter series have not been welcomed by everyone. Soon after it was first revealed, author JK Rowling began to trend on Twitter, as many called for such a series to be boycotted.

It comes off the back of a series of controversial comments made by the writer, which resulted in a number of stars, including Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne and Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, distance themselves from the wizarding world's creator.

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The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all