Harry Potter Gets Honest Review From HBO Boss: 'I'm Very Happy'

Harry Potter will officially premiere on Christmas, but the show has yet to unveil more promotional materials. However, one major key player has shared his feedback on the show.

HBO head of content Casey Bloys recently addressed his future following the upcoming merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount Skydance. Following the upcoming merger on Oct. 6, the two companies will be retitled Skydance, and will be the home of some of the biggest franchises in the world, including Harry Potter. While HBO’s series hasn’t premiered yet, Bloys confirmed to Bloomberg that he saw Season 1 already, and he’s “very happy” about it.

Harry Potter Season 1 Is Getting Closer

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Titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the upcoming HBO adaptation fixes the U.S. title, as it adapts J.K. Rowling’s first novel in the seven-book fantasy series. The feature film was titled The Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S. The show, which HBO wanted to keep around for 10 years and seven seasons, has a brand-new cast and more runtime to explore the Wizarding World.

During the Q&A, Bloys was asked a True or False question about Harry Potter becoming “the most-watched show of the year.”

“I’m not going to set expectations like that,” Bloys gave his honest answer on how the show performs. “You’re trying to set these little traps that I’m never going to walk into.”

He added, “I will say, I think I have seen the entire season and it is great and I’m very, very happy. Um, so, uh, I feel really, really good about that Christmas Day. I think a lot of people will be watching around the globe.”

Warner Bros. has a lot riding on Harry Potter. The series hasn’t confirmed a budget yet, but the project is huge, as highlighted in the 30-minute documentary Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic. While the HBO adaptation will benefit from new visual effects that make the older adaptations look dated, the series maintains the same level of commitment to practical sets and designs.

Reports indicate Warner Bros. also built a school and a medical center next to the set for the young cast, and the show has already scored a Season 2 renewal.

Harry Potter’s Returning Star Hyped His Return as an ‘Honor’

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While the series has a predominantly new cast, Season 1 will have a familiar face: Warwick Davis, who reprises his role as the Charms Professor Filius Flitwick. The actor had a dual role in the eight films, as, aside from Flitwick, he also played Griphook, the Gringotts goblin, in the Deathly Hallows.

Davis noted, “That character has been one of my favourite characters to play in my career. He’s a very warm, kind of likeable character, as far as I’m concerned.”

Davis continued, “To be asked to come back and play him again for the series was a huge honour, and I’m excited to retell these stories because they’re fantastic stories. But I can’t tell you anything about the series yet because it’s all very top secret.”

Dominic McLaughlin leads Harry Potter as the title character, with Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. The principal cast also includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on Dec. 25 on HBO Max.