Max’s Harry Potter show is drumming up buzz for multiple reasons. While some fans seem excited to jump into a reimagining of the Wizarding World, others – especially those who love the Potter films we have – aren’t so enthused. One person who’s definitely eager for the show to see the light of day is Warner Bros. TV chairman and CEO Channing Dungey. The exec had remained mostly tight-lipped about the production up until now but just recently shared an honest explanation for the show’s existence, and I really can’t argue with it.
The businesswoman recently appeared at Mipcom, which is held in Cannes, and provided updates on some of the ventures that her company is currently working on. Unsurprisingly, the latest adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s famed fantasy series came up during the discussion. Channing Dungey (via Variety) expressed much enthusiasm over the title, which may or may not end up being one of the best shows on Max someday. As a fan of the IP herself, she has a narrative-based reason for pursuing the project:
[Working within the franchise was an] unbelievable dream, honestly, and as somebody who is a huge fan of the books, the opportunity to get to explore them in a little bit more in-depth that you can in just a two-hour film… that’s the whole reason we’re on this journey.
I’d be one of the first to admit that I’m still a bit skeptical when it comes to the notion of rebooting the Harry Potter franchise. After all, the film series – which famously starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and more – was so well done. With all that said, it’s hard to argue with the exec’s assertion. Because the movies were limited in terms of runtimes, they couldn’t explore the finer details of the books from which they were adapted. So the series would indeed be invaluable in shedding light on those aspects of the stories.
This isn’t the first time this aspect of the show has been discussed. Series producer David Heyman spoke to that point while sharing an update around a year ago. Heyman conveyed that he looked forward to crafting a show that “explores the books more deeply.” One would think that’s a big reason why a number of fans are looking forward to this new take on Potter.
As for where production on the show stands, Channing Dungey also revealed during Mipcom that “writing staff was in place and they’re doing what they need to do.” She also said that “casting calls have opened up in the U.K. and Ireland, so the process is moving along.” Writing the show is no small feat, but what may be an even harder task is finding fresh actors who can embody the roles of the eponymous young wizard and those in his orbit.
If we’re being realistic, most of us surely know that a major reason the Harry Potter show is being made is due to financial gain, as the IP is very lucrative. Nevertheless, it’s still comforting to hear that Channing Dungey’s desire to better explore the source material was a key reason for her helping to will the project in existence. One hopes that the series – which even Daniel Radcliffe is “excited” to see – lives up to that promise of that in-depth exploration.
You’ll want to have a Max subscription so that you can stream the Harry Potter reboot series whenever it premieres. In the meantime, you can use that same membership to check out the eight movies in the saga as well as the Fantastic Beasts movies now.
