If we think about the television series on which we place the most expectations for the future, the Harry Potter reboot has very few rivals to contend with. Opting for the choice of a total renewal compared to the Warner film saga, the ambitious project curated by HBO - always a guarantee mark when it comes to productions for the small screen - promises an adaptation capable of not only proving to be in step with the times, but of fully doing justice to the unmistakable atmospheres of the magical universe taken from the novels by JK Rowling .

With filming set to begin next spring, casting for the lead actors began this month: the indispensable Harry, Ron and Hermione, so beloved in the paper version as in the one on the big screen. The selection for the roles of the three inseparable friends was more inclusive and different than in the past, as can be read in the announcement published on the web open to all aspiring actors between the ages of nine and eleven.

The document’s guidelines state the following: “We are committed to inclusive and diverse casting. For each role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law, unless otherwise noted.”

Recently contacted by Deadline for further updates, the CEO of the television network Casey Bloys dampened the hopes of the most impatient fans, clarifying that the production of the show is still in the early stages. With the intention of making a television season for each of the novels that make up the saga, Bloys reassured the state of work, but preferred not to give guarantees for the start of filming in March: "The writers have started writing, the director Mark Mylod is already at work, the team is in the process of forming. We have not announced any dates. I think they were referring to the age that the young actors will be in March, but that does not necessarily mean that there is a start date of production."

Hinting at a possible release date, he added: “Late 2026, early 2027. The writers have just started, so it’s too early to talk about airing.”

As for the return of some old glories who appeared in the previous films, British star Gary Oldman, who plays the character of Sirius Black , a powerful wizard and godfather in Harry Potter, recently spoke out. On the red carpet at the recent Emmy Awards, the maestro told IndieWire that he wouldn't turn down a part in the next TV series. Admitting that he hasn't yet received an offer from the production, Oldman expressed his desire to play a different, more challenging and less fleeting role than the one seen in the past: "I love Sirius, but he wasn't involved enough. He showed up and then walked through the veil." And with an implicit nomination for the role of Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts , he added: "I'd bet my money they'll have a completely new cast. Maybe in a few years I could play Dumbledore."

In addition to the big names that will probably appear in the reboot, the big challenge will once again be to direct the young actors. In this regard, director Chris Columbus - father of "Home Alone" and the first two Harry Potter films - recounted in the documentary "Child Star" the experiences he had alongside child stars like Macaulay Culkin, which were then used to select the actors for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in 2000. In this sense, the director stressed the importance of choosing not only a child who is suitable for the role, but also one who comes from a healthy family background and is prepared to handle the pressure : "I had to put blinders on because everywhere I went, that was all I heard. On the street, in a pub, everywhere people asked me who I would choose for Harry Potter. At that point, you take that information and bring it back to the actor and the parents to explain that things are going to get particularly intense. Suddenly, I realized that the parents had to be an important part of the matter. I can’t have an actor go home to an unstable environment, even for the sake of the film. It’s not worth it. It was important to choose the parents as much as the children.”

© Riproduzione riservata