As HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television search for the perfect writer to bring JK Rowling’s Wizarding World to the small screen, the field has now been narrowed down to three finalists who will spend the next few months honing their vision for the highly anticipated Harry Potter series.
Deadline has exclusively learned the names of the three writers still in contention – Francesca Gardiner, Tom Moran, and Kathleen Jordan. The final decision on who will adapt the beloved books is expected in June, with plans to debut the show in 2026 according to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
Gardiner, Moran, and Jordan were among the candidates reported by Deadline over the past month as the extensive search process has unfolded. Casey Bloys, Channing Dungey and their teams invited writers to pitch their takes on a Harry Potter series, with multiple rounds held in Los Angeles and London. Rowling has provided input throughout.
The three writers have varied backgrounds spanning prestige dramas and genre fare. Gardiner worked on HBO’s Succession and His Dark Materials, Moran created the Amazon thriller The Devil’s Hour, and Jordan developed the Netflix teen detective show Teenage Bounty Hunters.
While only one is likely to get the job, Max remains open to developing multiple Harry Potter-based projects. Along with Warner Bros. Television, they aim to honor and expand the rich universe that has enchanted fans for over two decades via books, movies, plays, and merchandising.
With the 25th anniversary of the first novel approaching next year, the pressure is on to carefully translate Harry Potter’s magic to television. But under the guidance of Rowling and veteran producer David Heyman, the franchise’s future on HBO Max rests in the hands of one of these three talented finalist writers.
