Harry Potter Series Names His Dark Materials’ Francesca Gardiner as Showrunner, Succession‘s Mark Mylod to Direct
HBO’s as-yet-untitled Harry Potter TV series is starting to take shape, with the naming of both its showrunner and a key director.
Francesca Gardiner, whose writing and producing credits include His Dark Materials and Succession, has been set to write and showrun the small-screen adaptation, while Mark Mylod (Succession, Game of Thrones, Entourage) is locked in to direct multiple episodes.
More from TVLine
Gardiner is a two-time Emmy winner for her work as a Succession producer, as well as a two-time WGA Award winner.
Mylod, meanwhile, is a three-time Emmy nominee for director, grabbing gold in 2023 for helming Succession‘s acclaimed “Connor’s Wedding” episode.
Harry Potter TV Series: Everything We Know
First announced in April 2023 and described as “a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling,” the HBO series will tap a brand-new cast to lead a new generation of fandom and be “full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years.”
Ostensibly, this series could run seven seasons — matching the number of books in Rowling’s series of novels — though details on the game plan are not completely clear. When the TV series was first ordered (as a Max original), there was talk of it spanning a decade. It has yet to be confirmed, though, if that equates to 10 seasons, or simply a 10-year lifespan for the show. (Eight Harry Potter films were previously made, with the final Deathly Hallows novel getting split into two movies.)
Now bound for HBO (as part of a newly announced rebranding), the Harry Potter series is on track for a 2026 premiere.
“We’ve not been shy about our excitement around Harry Potter,” Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav said during a February earnings call. “We’re aiming for a debut in 2026.”
Want scoop on the Harry Potter series, or for any other TV show ? Email [email protected], and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!
Best of TVLine
Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter