This isn't at all "bad news". It's actually great. It means that they arent rushing the show and are taking their time to carefully craft it.
Off topic, but R.I.P. to Dame Maggie Smith.
The casting is so pivotal that if they don’t get it right it will be unwatchable, and no amount of budget can save the show if they can’t recapture the magic with actors that can carry the torch. I think it’s a big hurdle and maybe unlikely they will manage , but I really do want to see more from Harry Potter so.
Bad news is that no production date as of yet but everything else is going good like budget and the casting call
if the show premieres in 2026 it'll be exactly 25 years after harry potter and the philosopher's stone movie hit theaters in 2001
You don't want someone who is too old for Dumbledore, this person has to be around for nigh on a decade most likely so you run risks like what happened in the films.
i’m in the acting industry, and whilst they released an open casting, people who are already a part of casting agency for speaking roles will be auditioned in a “regular way” with self tapes with parts of the script from the film and such.. which leads me to believe that we’re in good hands when it comes to castings.
As soon as they cast James and Lily, they need to film every scene with them against green screen for later use. That way, their spirits won't have visibly aged throughout the series. They also need to film any Snape flashback related to his hearing the prophecy and Lily's death immediately as well, so the actor doesn't look too old. Also, Jude Law would be great for Dumbledore. They can always make him up to look older, plus he can do the flashbacks.
Either way, I just hope the company actually use and make big set pieces and not just CGI everything. That's what I like about the movies and watching behind the scenes, is the charm and magic of turning real places into parts of Hogwarts. You just don't get that much these days. Of course you have to CGI a lot of things, even back then, but most movies now won't even make a basic set, they'll just CGI it, which is sad.
Let's keep expectations down. Being 'approved by Rowling' is not that meaningful these days (though yes, it's needed to put the project further... But it doesn't automatically certify as good). For example, did someone read the Cursed Child book "approved by Rowling"? An inconsistent mess which, from what I remember, is considered 'canon' like Fantastic Beasts 2 and 3? We need to wait and see, that's it...
The presence of J.K Rowling in this show is tantamount to that of Dumbledore's when he's present at Hogwarts. If he is absent, the entirety of those within and without Hogwarts know it. Watchful nights formerly held at bay close in just as quickly as they retreat upon his return. I'd have great cause for concern if Rowling was excluded from this project, having it instead be made by other people and/or studios despite them being permitted to do so. With Rowling and Warner Bros. exists the best hope of this show being all we know and wait for it to be.
HBO is well known for moving at a glacial pace. So many shows take more than a year between seasons. There is also no reason to cast children if the show is years out from production. You shouldn't be casting 8-9 year old hoping they will be good when the show finally does start. Finally, the whole show needs to be ready to roll, all 7(?) seasons ready to be produced in sequence so they don't end up with 20 or 21 yeat olds playing the kids at the end.
I think Jude Law would be the best pick for Dumbledore. As for his age, there's always makeup.
I know I keep saying this, but I hope and pray they don't do any forced diversity, race-swappings or any of that stuff which has caused so many Disney products to fail. Stick to how the characters are described in the book, and everything will be find. I'm an Elder Scrolls fan, I am used to waiting for new games, so take all the time you need, just for the love of Lord Sheogorath, don't mess this up.
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan.. but I’m very disappointed about them doing a reboot… why do we need a tv show going over the same story we have known for so long? Why not create an entirely new story that covers events that happen after the main story? Or do a prequel about Tom riddle? Snape? The marauders? There are so many cool ideas that they could explore in the wizarding world especially with a series, and they are choosing to retell the same one.. it’s kinda lame.
R.I.P Maggie Smith
i mean nobody asked for the reboot anyways…
I'm usually against Americans playing British parts in things like Harry Potter but Lee Pace is a pretty good actor for Snape. He has a similar tone of voice and his accent in some things sound almost British. Couldn't even tell he was American. I think they'd have to give Cumberbatch a false nose if he played Snape. He just doesn't have the face for the character or can't picture him visually as Snape. His voice on the other hand I can hear him playing a good Snape.
How's this bad news... I already figured the show would drop 2026 or 27. Definitely not 2025.
@sethcarlow8363