Accio Harry Potter cast details.
HBO shared insight into the casting process of its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation after speculation began swirling that John Lithgow—who's starred in shows like Dexter, as well as movies such as Conclave and Interstellar—was in final negotiations to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore in the series, which is expected to hit screens in 2026.
“We appreciate that such a high-profile series will draw a lot of rumor and speculation,” HBO said in a Feb. 12 statement to Deadline. “As we make our way through pre-production, we will only confirm details as we finalize deals.”
E! News reached out to HBO and a rep for Lithgow for comment but has not heard back.
And while HBO didn't confirm whether the role of Dumbledore—previously played by the late Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in the 2001-2011 film franchise—has been filled, the network has shared several other magical details about the high-profile J.K. Rowling adaptation, which was designed to run for over a decade.
For one, Francesca Gardiner—who's previously written for dramas including His Dark Materials and The Rook—created the series and will serve as its showrunner.
Meanwhile, Mark Mylod—who's behind the 2022 psychological thriller The Menu—will direct and executive produce the show.
And fans of the book will be especially pleased with HBO's take on the franchise, as the producers announced in a 2023 press release that it will be a "faithful adaptation" of Rowling's novels.
As for whether film series cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and Ralph Fiennes will be returning to Hogwarts in some capacity? Radcliffe doesn't want muggles to get their hopes up.
"I think they very wisely want to [have] a clean break," he told E! News in May. "And I don't know if it would work to have us do anything in it."
Radcliffe continued, "I'm very happy to just watch along with everyone else."
But that doesn't mean the door is completely closed on him re-entering the wizarding world. After all, the 35-year-old remained coy when asked exactly how he'd respond if HBO did ask him to make an appearance.
"I'm gonna be a politician about this," he quipped, "and not deal in hypotheticals."
Can't wait for Harry Potter to hit TV screens in 2026? Read on for shows set to premiere this year...
90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days (TLC) - Dec. 7
This season, eight Americans, including the bold and fiery Elise, looking to settle down after stirring things up on 90 Day: Hunt for Love, are leaving everything behind to travel to international destinations like the Philippines, Belize, Turkey, Morocco, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Australia. Each is hoping to turn their long-distance connection into a lasting commitment.
These couples are stepping into the unknown, driven by love but challenged by distance, doubt, and deep cultural divides. From conflicting expectations and family pressure to hidden pasts and even surveillance-level possessiveness, the stakes have never been higher for these unconventional love stories. With hearts on the line and passports in hand, they’re betting everything on the chance their virtual romances will transform into real-world relationships.
Dance Moms: A New Era (Hulu) - Dec. 8
After Studio Bleu suddenly closes, Glo scrambles to rebuild as Project X with her daughter Kaeli coaching beside her. Tensions rise when a new mom and dancer join the team, and one mom’s personal struggle has a devastating effect on the studio.
Here Come the Irish (Peacock) - Dec. 8
Season two offers an in-depth look at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, exploring their lives on and off the field.
Here Come the Irish documents the legendary football team through their grit, determination and brotherhood along with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with those closest to the program. On the field, witness the intense training regimens, strategic game preparations and the electrifying atmosphere of game days. Off the field, the series delves into the academic commitments, personal stories and the motivation to be college football’s best.
Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House (Magnolia Network & HGTV) - Dec. 9
In Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House, Chip and Joanna Gaines take on a 1960s mountain property in Colorado, tackling unique design and construction hurdles that come with high-altitude living. Together, they blend original mid-century details with European-inspired finishes, transforming the home into their own timeless family retreat nestled in the Rockies.
Percy Jackson and the Plympians (Disney+) - Dec. 10
After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy Jackson embarks on an epic odyssey into the Sea of Monsters in search of his best friend Grover and the one thing that may save the camp—the Golden Fleece. With help from Annabeth, Clarisse and his newfound cyclops half-brother Tyson, Percy’s survival is crucial in the fight to stop Luke, the Titan Kronos, and their impending plan to bring down Camp Half-Blood—and ultimately, Olympus.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act (Netflix) - Dec. 10
Music mogul and record executive Simon Cowell has single handedly created some of the biggest music superstars in the world. In this brand-new Netflix docu-series, cameras follow him everywhere as he sets out to do it again, to try and create the next global boyband sensation. This is unlike any show he has made before. From raw open casting calls to the release of their debut single, this is an all-access pass for viewers to catch every moment of Simon’s next chapter. Will he strike gold once again?
Little Distasters (Paramount+) - Dec. 11
The thriller focuses on a decade-long friendship among Jess (Diane Kruger), Liz (Jo Joyner), Charlotte (Shelley Conn) and Mel (Emily Taaffe), four expectant mothers who were thrown together with little in common apart from their due dates but have been there for one another throughout motherhood. When perfect stay-at-home mother Jess takes her baby daughter to hospital with a head injury that she can’t explain, her close friend and on-duty ER doctor Liz must make the excruciating decision of whether to call social services. With one phone call, Liz sets in motion a chain of events that ripples, fractures and nearly destroys not only their families but their entire friendship group.
The Secrets We Bury (Investigation Discovery) - Dec. 16
The new deocumentary is an empathetic account of a Long Island family unwinding a decades old mystery around their father’s disappearance.
In the early 1960s, George Carroll walked out on his family, leaving his wife, Dorothy, and their four children behind. Decades later, the Carroll siblings are still left haunted by what happened to their father. Seeking much-needed closure for himself and his family, The Secrets We Bury follows Mike Carroll as he unravels the mystery of his father’s disappearance and uncovers a story much darker and more complex than his family could have imagined.
Fallout (Prime Video) - Dec. 17
The new season will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Season two will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Emily in Paris (Netflix) - Dec. 18
Now the head of Agence Grateau Rome, Emily faces professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks. Seeking stability, Emily leans into her French lifestyle, until a big secret threatens one of her closest relationships. Tackling conflict with honesty, Emily emerges with deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities.
Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts (Hulu) - Dec. 19
With this all new one-hour special, Kumail Nanjiani makes his return to stand-up after nearly a decade with Night Thoughts.
Born to Be Wild (Apple TV+) - Dec. 19
Filmed over several years across three continents, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs. From their earliest days through their journey to life in the wild, the series highlights the challenges, triumphs, and resilience that define their survival, both for the animals and the extraordinary people working to raise and protect them.
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (Hulu) - Dec. 22
The Watterson family is back to prove that reality is just a suggestion in their wonderfully weird world. Gumball, Darwin, and the town of Elmore are more chaotic, hilarious, and bizarre than ever before, navigating a fresh wave of absurdity. This season tackles a promposal involving Penny faking her own death, outright pandemonium with wild animals invading the suburbs, and a witchy student cult attempting a yearbook séance. The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball is pure satire and hijinks, offering plenty of laughs for kids and adults alike, culminating in the long-awaited return of the franchise’s biggest foe: Rob and The Void.
Fixer Upper: Fireplace (Magnolia Network) - Dec. 24
This season, sit down and relax by the fire blazing in the hearths at The Gaines' Family Farm and Mountain House. This series transports you to a Magnolia fireplace decorated for the winter/holidays with twinkling lights and fresh garland. The natural sounds of crackling wood paired with soft holiday music create the perfect backdrop for a cozy holiday gathering.
Made in Korea (Hulu) - Dec. 24
Set in 1970s Korea, season one follows Baek Kitae, an ambitious KCIA agent who’s living a double life. Driven by his thirst for power, Kitae works as an agent by day and a smuggler by night. Smart, suave, cunning and capable, Kitae rapidly moves up the ranks after using his smuggling operation to consolidate power, protect his brother, and generate vast sums of money for the agency. Seemingly unstoppable, only one thing stands in his way—a tenacious prosecutor who can't be reasoned with, bought or bribed. With everything at stake for both men, the series will follow the duo as they look to take each other down.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 (Netflix) - Dec. 25
The final season continues Christmas Day.
Junk or Jackpot? (HGTV) - Dec. 26
The new series follows collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections. From an overwhelming stash of superhero figurines to cramped spaces stuffed with rare puppets and dolls and miniature sets that leave no room for actual, life-size furniture – these homes are begging for professional help, and the collectors must decide whether they are willing to sell some of their items to pay for the much-needed renovation. With a combination of humor, compassion and a celebration of the passionate collector in all of us, Bobby Berk will support the homeowners through the process of sorting through, appraising and letting go of their stockpile, discovering the ‘found money’ along the way to achieving their dream makeover.
The Copenhagen Test (Peacock) - Dec. 27
This espionage thriller series follows first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) who realizes his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies.
Animal Control (Fox) - Dec. 28
Get ready to go wild with the comedy's season four premiere.
Celebrity IOU (HGTV) - Dec. 28
The star-studded series will highlight the A-listers who share heartwarming personal stories of gratitude with HGTV stars and series’ executive producers Drew and Jonathan Scott and then put their deep thanks into action for special friends by surprising them with life-changing home transformations. The celebrities’ gusto to wield tools and rip apart dated rooms combined with the Scott Brothers’ renovation and design expertise will lead to personalized dream spaces for extraordinary people.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026 (ABC) - Dec. 31
Diana Ross will step onto the world’s most iconic stage to celebrate with millions and welcome a new year with style, magic, and unforgettable music in what will be a defining moment in the show’s history. Her headline performance promises a spectacular blend of glamour and a timeless medley of hits