Janet McTeer is a woman who appears to be living the Harry Potter dream, and to be honest, it is very infectious. The actress, who is set to play the role of Professor McGonagall in the upcoming HBO-produced Harry Potter series, recently gave a teaser for the show on a podcast, and it is clear that she is very passionate about the series. In fact, she referred to the production as an “extraordinary” one, which is exactly what Potter fans want to hear from an actress who is set to play one of the most iconic roles in the series. In fact, the production itself appears to be going all-out to ensure that the hype is justified. Speaking to Variety, the streaming chief for Warner Bros. Discovery, JB Perrette, referred to the series as “the streaming event of the decade.” His argument for why the series is a must-watch is simple: the format allows for the exploration of subplots that the film series had to cut for time.
HBO’s Harry Potter series targets long-term success
“It is so extraordinary, I can’t tell you. The sets, the costumes, the camera work, the kids are unbelievable. All the witches and wizards are divine. I genuinely pinch myself every single day.” Said McTeer
And nobody can really argue with that. Even those who are huge fans of the films have been wishing for years that there would be a more faithful and detailed adaptation of the books. A long-form series allows for that.
Another point that Perrette brought up was that HBO Max’s global expansion, especially into the U.K., where Harry Potter has been at the heart of popular culture for years. Add that to what is likely one of the largest built-in fan bases anywhere in the world. The possibilities are enormous.
Of course, those who are huge fans of Harry Potter are also those who know that you can’t judge a series by how good the first season or two are. The test comes in keeping that level of quality throughout all of those seasons. Something that HBO learned the hard way with Game of Thrones.
But between McTeer’s enthusiasm, HBO’s commitment to this project, and people’s genuine love for this world that J.K. Rowling created, you can’t help but get excited. Now we just have to see if that enthusiasm lasts.
