HBO addresses challenges of child actors growing up in Harry Potter TV show
Casey Bloys explains HBO's strategy to ensure young actors in the Harry Potter TV series remain age-appropriate by addressing scheduling and filming challenges.
Nov 19, 2024
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson in a still from Harry Potter
The impending Harry Potter adaptation on HBO will handle the performers' development between seasons, according to HBO executive Casey Bloys. This series will be the second feature film based on J.K. Rowling's popular children's fantasy books. From 2001 through 2011, eight films made up the original franchise, which earned over $7.7 billion globally. Rumour has it that HBO will be putting the finishing touches on a Harry Potter live-action series in 2021. HBO anticipates releasing one book adaptation per season as early as 2026.
Challenges of young performers aging
As per TVLine, Bloys addressed the issue of young performers maturing during a recent press conference. This is a major worry with YA TV adaptations. Although there is usually only a one-year age difference between books, actors may be significantly older than their characters due to production delays.
According to Bloys, the creative team is definitely thinking about this. He stated that something along these lines is on their minds. They considered filming the first and second seasons at the same time, since the years 11–13 represent a significant turning point in the lives of the children. The range of 13 to 15 is acceptable. So, they need to plan their shooting and release dates accordingly so that the characters don't bulk up too much from season to season. It is something to think about.
Industry-wide concern
Given the enduring popularity and significant impact of the brand, it is imperative that any Harry Potter television adaptation stays faithful to the books and films. A major issue with television series is the long breaks between seasons, which can make young actors look much older than they actually are. Stranger Things and similar shows run across the same problem. It's difficult to predict which actors will undergo dramatic transformations between seasons.
Positively, Bloys' remarks demonstrate that the network has thought about this and is making preparations for it. Shooting the first two seasons of Harry Potter almost simultaneously is a brilliant move that will perfectly capture the actors' youthful energy and bring them to life as the characters. The show could probably get away with slightly older performers by the time the books in the series reach a more mature level. Nevertheless, it will be crucial for the show to maintain the spirit of Hogwarts years one and two.
Longevity of the series
The series has a 10-year contract with HBO. While the duration of the show's television run remains uncertain, it is certainly a possibility.
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