Harry Potter And The Cursed Child – First Trailer (2025) Warner Bros

The Harry Potter TV show finally has a release window, which means we can estimate when each season of the upcoming series will begin streaming on Max. News that the beloved Warner Bros movies were being remade came in 2023, along with the promise that the series would be a book-faithful adaption and span about a decade. Now, Warner Bros. Discovery has met with prospective writers and has revealed their goal to get season 1 of the Harry Potter TV show streaming sometime in 2026 (via Screen Rant).

The most significant benefit to a TV remake of the Harry Potter series is the opportunity to restore many of the book moments that were cut from the original Warner Bros movies. Additionally, the evolution of technology since the 2000s means that the wizarding world can be done far better justice today, allowing for episode after episode of pure magic. Of course, Harry’s story will still be a challenge to pull off. Warner Bros is working with a limited timeline, so things will need to move quickly after season 1 of the Harry Potter remake releases in 2026.

The Harry Potter remake can fix the worst changes from the movies, but given HBO’s timeline, it will take about a decade before this pays off.

When We Estimate Each Harry Potter TV Remake Season Will Premiere (Based On The 2026 Release Window)

 Though little else is known about how the upcoming Harry Potter remake will be approached, the updated release window sheds some light on the path ahead. HBO and Warner Bros have already revealed that they plan to dedicate entire seasons to each of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, meaning the series should comprise seven total installments. Of course, there are a few ways that the Harry Potter TV remake can spread its seven seasons over 10 years, but based on the original movies’ releases, we can fathom a guess.

SeasonBook Being AdaptedEstimated Premiere YearSeason 1Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone2026Season 2Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets2027Season 3Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban2028Season 4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2030Season 5Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix2032Season 6Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince2034Season 7Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows2036

Overall, the estimated timeline above isn’t entirely different from the time frame in which the original Harry Potter movies were released. The Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie (2002) was released only a year after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001). However, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban didn’t hit theaters until 2004, likely due to the need to recast the role of Albus Dumbledore after Richard Harris’ passing and the necessity for the upgraded Hogwarts set. From there, each subsequent Harry Potter movie was released between one and two years after the previous one.

The Harry Potter movies also spanned 10 years, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone released in 2001 and the second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hitting theaters in 2011.

Warner Bros Will Likely Release Harry Potter’s First 3 Seasons Yearly

Like the Harry Potter movies, Warner Bros may take two years between some seasons and one between others at random, depending on how much time is needed and what kinds of delays crop up. However, it would be wise for Warner Bros to plan on releasing the first three seasons of the Harry Potter remake yearly, as shown in the timeline above. Since Harry is 11 years old in Philosopher’s Stone, equally as young actors must be cast to play the Golden Trio. In those first few years, between 10 and 14, these kids will age quickly.

To avoid the actors looking too old to play their characters, the Harry Potter remake must get through those first few seasons as quickly as possible. Additionally, the first two Harry Potter movies were relatively true to Rowling’s books, which means these are likely to be the least interesting seasons of the remake. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is when the movie franchise really started leaving out key details, so HBO’s third season is what audiences are likely most eager to see. If the TV series takes too long to get there, it might lose viewership.

2-Year Breaks May Be Necessary Between The Harry Potter Remake’s Last 4 Seasons

After adapting Prisoner of Azkaban into season 3 of the Harry Potter TV remake, Warner Bros and HBO can begin to slow down. By this point, the new stars will be 14 to 15 years old, and it will be much easier to claim they are younger than they are. This will allow the series to really begin to dig into the more complicated aspects of these later Harry Potter books.

The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie left out a massive amount from the books, thanks both to limited time and the necessity to choose which CGI-intensive scenes would make it to the screen and be within budget. With two years to develop, Warner Bros and HBO can finally bring these plotlines and big moments to the screen in season 4 of the Harry Potter. The same will be necessary for Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows, each of which will require a lot of time, energy, and money to adapt to their full glory.

A September 2026 Release Would Be Best For The Harry Potter Remake’s First Season

Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping for a 2026 release, but it is never mentioned when that year they hope to begin streaming the first season of the Harry Potter TV remake. Typically, the month a series premieres isn’t crucial. However, in the case of the Wizarding World franchise, nostalgia can play a massive role in the upcoming show’s success. September 1st famously marks the start of a new school year at Hogwarts, and the day has become something of a holiday for avid Harry Potter fans. Therefore, this makes it the perfect premier day for season 1 of the remake.

If September 1st, 2026, is the day that season 1 of the Harry Potter TV show begins streaming, it would be preferred that this trend continue through to the subsequent seasons. However, other significant dates could make the season premieres more impactful. July 31st is Harry’s birthday and a common approximate date on which the story kicks off in each book, making it another appropriate premiere date. Regardless of the specifics, 2026 will be a big year for Harry Potter fans—as well as the decade that follows.