HBO exec Casey Bloys addresses how the network’s future Harry Potter the adaptation will deal with the actors’ growth between seasons. The show will mark the second screen adaptation of JK Rowling’s beloved series of children’s fantasy novels. The original film franchise released eight films between 2001 and 2011 and grossed more than $7.7 billion worldwide. In 2021, it was reported that HBO is developing a live-action Harry Potter TV program. It is expected to cover one season per book and could arrive as early as 2026.
During a recent press conference (via TV line), Bloys addressed a major concern that arises with young adult television adaptations: the growth of young actors. While characters are typically only a year older between books, production schedules can result in longer gaps, making actors much older than the people they play. Bloys confirmed This is something that is on the creative team’s mind. Check out Bloys’ comments on the situation below:
It’s something we’re thinking about. One of the ideas we talked about was filming the first season and second season very close to each other in terms of time, because from 11 to 13 years old is a big leap in children’s lives. You might come away with 13 to 15, something like that. So we’ll have to think about scheduling and filming so that they don’t grow too much between seasons. It’s a consideration.
HBO’s plan suggests they are dedicated to making the best show possible
As the brand is so beloved and influential, it is important to ensure that a Harry Potter The TV show is as accurate and faithful to the source material as possible. One of the big problems TV shows face is that there can sometimes be several years between seasons, which can mean that Child actors can appear significantly older from season to season. This was a problem encountered by programs like Stranger Things. It’s impossible to know which of the actors might have drastic growth spurts between seasons.
Bloys’ comments are positive because they show that the network has considered this and is already taking steps to plan for it. Filming Harry Potter Seasons 1 and 2 back to back are a great approach as this will capture the young ages of the actors and match them to the characters. The later novels in the series are more adult and the show would be able to get away with slightly older actors at this point. However, protecting the essence of the early years at Hogwarts will be essential to the show.
Our Take on Whether the Harry Potter Show Can Fight Aging
A smart shooting schedule will help considerably
HBO has made a 10-year commitment to the series. It’s unclear whether the show will stay on the air for that long, but there’s a chance it could continue for longer. I believe the network will try to film the first three seasons very close to each other.and then there could be a gap of a few years before season 4. This would fit within the 10 year period and would also reflect book releases. Above all, this would help the filming schedule accommodate the aging and maturity of the cast during the film. Harry Potter TV adaptation.
Source: TV line