New York Post: Warner Bros. boss teases new ‘Harry Potter’ franchises

Story from New York Post:

Expecto patronum? 

Warner Bros. Discovery International boss Gerhard Zeiler detailed his plans for the company and highlighted the “development of franchises” for “Harry Potter” in a talk at the Royal Television Society convention in London, according to Deadline.

Zeiler specifically mentioned “Harry Potter,” as well as “Game of Thrones” and DC movies, to be part of the future endeavors that will bring the company success.

However, HBO shot down the possibility of new “Harry Potter programming” in a statement to The Post. The rep clarified that Zeiler had only “spoke about the opening of the Tokyo Wizarding World not about a series or films.”

While there were no specifics given, there has long been talk of a TV series circulating — although Warner Bros. and HBO Max both have previously denied rumors.

“There are no ‘Harry Potter’ series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform,” Warner Bros. and HBO Max said in a joint statement in January 2021.

An HBO rep told The Post Wednesday that statement “still stands.”

Later that year, Daniel Radcliffe expressed what role he would want to play in the event of a reboot.

“I would probably want to go with like, Sirius [Black] or [Remus] Lupin,” he said at the time.

Most recently, HBO Max released the “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” documentary in January to celebrate the franchise’s two decades of success.

Late “Harry Potter” star Alan Rickman, who played professor Severus Snape, left behind memories from the original franchise before he died. Excerpts from his journals are set to be published next month in a book titled “Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman.”

Some snippets reveal he wanted to leave the wizard movies, but ended up signing on for more.

“Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen,” he wrote on Dec. 4, 2002. “But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it.”

By Jan. 30, 2006, he seemed to have a change of heart, though. “Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story.’” 

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