With the franchise in full swing, HBO is preparing a new Harry Potter series with the aim of bringing the books to television, with a planned release in 2027. In this context, it has been confirmed that Warwick Davis will return to play Professor Filius Flitwick , a move that reinforces the link between the films and the new adaptation, which is already filming in the UK.
The announcement came during the Back to Hogwarts celebration and is accompanied by more casting news and production updates. While Davis focuses on her most memorable role, Leigh Gill will play Griphook , and the team insists on a faithful approach to the novels, aiming to adapt one book per season and expand upon storylines that didn't make it into the films.
Warwick Davis's return to Hogwarts
Davis's return brings continuity to the Hogwarts universe: in the film saga, he played Flitwick and various Gringotts goblins, as well as the school choir director. In the series, his role focuses on the charismatic Charms professor, making him, so far, the first and only member of the original cast to reprise the same character in this television reboot.
The actor himself has shared that returning to school has a special meaning, emphasizing that the character and the wizarding world have been with him for decades. This nod to his past in the franchise creates an emotional connection with fans who grew up with the films and are now hoping for a more detailed adaptation of the source material.
Cast, production and release date
The series moves forward with a revamped cast that blends fresh faces with veteran actors. The three main protagonists, Dominic McLaughlin (Harry) , Arabella Stanton (Hermione) , and Alastair Stout (Ron), lead a show designed to run for several seasons.
The teaching staff includes names that are already well-known in television: John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. The Weasley family and the Slytherin community are also taking shape with Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley), Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy), and Johnny Flynn (Lucius Malfoy).
The magical school's cast is rounded out with new additions: Sirine Saba will play Pomona Sprout, Richard Durden will portray the ghostly Professor Cuthbert Binns, and Brid Brennan will play Madam Poppy Pomfrey. In the student houses, Elijah Oshin will play Dean Thomas, while Finn Stephens and William Nash will portray Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, respectively.
On the creative side, the series is written and produced by Francesca Gardiner , with Mark Mylod directing key episodes and J.K. Rowling , Neil Blair , and Ruth Kenley-Letts (Brontë Film and TV) serving as executive producers, along with David Heyman (Heyday Films). The stated priority is to remain faithful to the books and expand upon arcs and characters left unfinished on the big screen.
Filming is underway in London and at Leavesden Studios , with the first official look at the lead actor in character as the young wizard. The network is aiming for a 2027 debut, with the first season inspired by The Philosopher's Stone and a year-long roadmap to further develop the saga.
Alongside the announcements, the debate surrounding the reboot continues. Director Chris Columbus , responsible for the first two films, has questioned the necessity of the series and the recreation of certain iconography, while also ruling out a hypothetical " Cursed Child" with the original cast due to differences and public tensions surrounding J.K. Rowling . The current team, however, insists on a balance between visual continuity and new narrative nuances to attract new generations without losing veteran fans.
With Warwick Davis's casting as a sign of continuity, a solidified cast, and the plan to tell the story book by book , the Harry Potter series on HBO aims to combine faithfulness to the source material, television scale, and a more detailed exploration of Hogwarts and its world. If the schedule cooperates and filming keeps pace, the return to school promises to revive the magic with a fresh perspective and many details to discover.