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Harry Potter will be brought to life on the small screen in a new decade-long television series, it has been revealed.

The series will be a “faithful adaptation” of the hugely popular books about the wizarding world by author JK Rowling, who will serve as an executive producer.

It will feature a different cast to the films, with each season promising to be “authentic to the original books” and bring Harry Potter to new audiences.

The series will be available on Max – currently branded as HBO Max – a streaming service from Warner Bros, the production company behind the original films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

JK Rowling, second left, joins actors, left to right, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint for the World Premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in London in 2011 Pic: AP
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JK Rowling with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in 2011

“The new series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years,” a statement from Max said.

The original films will remain “at the core” of the franchise, the streaming service said.

Rowling, 57, hailed Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of her books, adding: “I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series.”

British film producer David Heyman – who produced all eight installments of the movie franchise – is in talks to work on the television series.

A new Harry Potter televisions series will be brought to the small screen Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, Casey Bloys, said: “We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way.

“Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the wizarding world.

“In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and JK Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”

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File photo dated 29/03/22 of JK Rowling. The sport of Quidditch is to change its name in a move that is set to "distance" the sport from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Issue date: Wednesday July 20, 2022.
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JK Rowling will serve as an executive producer

Rowling, is one of the most successful authors of all time with her seven Harry Potter books, published between 1997 and 2007, selling more than 500 million copies worldwide.

More recently, she has been criticised for her views on gender identity, which came to light in a number of tweets she published in 2020.

In a new podcast entitled The Witch Trials of JK Rowling in February, she said she “never set out to upset anyone” but was “not comfortable with getting off my pedestal”.

Rowling said she “absolutely knew” her comments and views on transgender issues would make some Harry Potter fans “deeply unhappy” – but added that “a tonne of Potter fans that were grateful that I said what I said”.

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Husband’s tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

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Husband's tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

A mother-of-two who died after being hit by a falling tree branch on the way home from a family outing would do “everything she could for anyone”, her husband has said.

Madia Kauser, 32, was walking with her family in Witton Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 11 August when the incident happened.

She is reported to have pushed her young daughter to safety.

A joint investigation is being carried out by Lancashire Police and the Health and Safety Executive and any witnesses are being asked to come forward.

In a tribute issued by police, her husband Wasim Khan described her as the “most beautiful woman in the world” and said he feels “completely lost without her”.

He said: “My wife, a mother-of-two, a daughter, sister and a friend we lost to a tragic event that came on the way home from a family day out in the park.

“She was the most beautiful woman in the world, she did everything for our two children, she did everything she could for anyone and would bring smiles whenever she entered the room.

“She was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life.

“We have so many great memories, went through pain together and started a family together.

“Honestly, I feel completely lost without her and I do not know how to put into words how much I miss her face, her character and her presence. My one and only.”

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Detective Inspector Iain Czapowski said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident which has cost a young woman her life and my thoughts are with her loved ones.

“We are working closely with our colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive and with the co-operation of the council to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened, and I would like to speak to anyone with information which could assist with that.

“I am especially keen to speak to anyone who actually saw what happened on that fateful night and I would urge them to contact us.”

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

A member of rap trio Kneecap was greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at court this morning, charged with allegedly supporting a proscribed terror organisation.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.

Demonstrators waving flags and holding banners in support of the rapper greeted him with cheers as he made his way into Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA
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The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA

Supported by his Kneecap bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, it took the rapper more than a minute to enter the building as security officers worked to usher him inside through a crowd of photographers.

Fans held signs which read “Free Mo Chara”, while others waved Irish and Palestinian flags.

As the hearing got under way, O hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address, with the court hearing an Irish language interpreter would be present.

During a previous hearing, prosecutors said the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but said the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town was a “wholly different thing”.

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O hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge.

Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters
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Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters

Who are Kneecap?

Kneecap put out their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 after the release of their debut album and an eponymously titled film – a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language.

The film, in which the trio play themselves and co-star alongside starring Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, won the BAFTA for outstanding debut earlier this year, for director and writer Rich Peppiatt.

Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was business secretary.

They are known for songs including H.O.O.D, Fine Art, and Better Way To Live, featuring Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten.

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Asylum seekers face being removed from Epping hotel after council granted High Court injunction

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Asylum seekers face being removed from Epping hotel after council granted High Court injunction

A council has won its bid to temporarily block asylum seekers from being housed at a hotel in Essex.

Epping Forest District Council sought an interim injunction to stop migrants from being accommodated at the Bell Hotel in Epping, which is owned by Somani Hotels Limited.

A government attempt to delay the application was rejected by the High Court judge earlier on Tuesday.

The interim injunction now means the hotel has to be cleared of its occupants within 14 days.

Somani Hotels said it intended to appeal the decision.

Several protests have been held outside the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with trying to kiss a teenage girl and denies the allegations. He is due to stand trial later this month.

Police officers ahead of a demonstration outside The Bell Hotel in July. Pic: PA
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Police officers ahead of a demonstration outside The Bell Hotel in July. Pic: PA

At a hearing last week, barristers for the council claimed Somani Hotels breached planning rules because the site is not being used for its intended purpose as a hotel.

Philip Coppel KC, for the council, said the problem was “getting out of hand” and “causing great anxiety” to local people.

He said the hotel “is no more a hotel [to asylum seekers] than a borstal to a young offender”.

File pic: PA
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File pic: PA

Piers Riley-Smith, for Somani Hotels Limited, said a “draconian” injunction would cause “hardship” for those in the hotel, arguing “political views” were not grounds for an injunction to be granted.

He also said contracts to house asylum seekers were a “financial lifeline” for the hotel, which was only 1% full in August 2022, when it was open to paying customers.

Protesters and counter-demonstrators outside The Bell Hotel in July. Pic: PA
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Protesters and counter-demonstrators outside The Bell Hotel in July. Pic: PA

The hotel housed migrants from May 2020 to March 2021, then from October 2022 to April 2024, with the council never instigating any formal enforcement proceedings against this use, Mr Riley-Smith said.

They were being placed there again in April 2025 and Mr Riley-Smith said a planning application was not made “having taken advice from the Home Office”.

At the end of the hearing last week, Mr Justice Eyre ordered that Somani Hotels could not “accept any new applications” from asylum seekers to stay at the site until he had made his ruling on the temporary injunction.

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