Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod To Showrun Harry Potter HBO Original Series

After months of writers pitches from Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran, and Michael Lesslie; His Dark Materials writer Francesca Gardiner has been tapped to showrun the upcoming Harry Potter HBO Original TV Show. Mark Mylod will direct episodes of the show, which will premiere on HBO and MAX.

This should be exciting news for Potter fans! Mylod, most popularly known as the director of The Menu, has a history of directing episodes of HBO hits, such as Succession, Game of Thrones, and The Last of Us. Gardiner worked on Succession in a consulting producer role, as well as a writer on episodes of His Dark Materials and Killing Eve. 

With Gardiner and Mylod finally attached to the project, and news regarding Harry Potter finally circulating, we can expect casting announcements and a release schedule relatively soon. Just yesterday, the show was announced to be rebranded as an HBO Original. Warner Bros. had originally announced the show along with the rebrand of HBO Max to MAX. 

I expect that we will hear more news on July 31 or September 1, prime marketing days for the Potter brand. July 31 marks Harry Potter’s in-universe birthday, and September 1 marks “Back to Hogwarts Day.” We can expect the show to release in 2026, with principal photography to start later this year/early next year.