According to FlixPatrol, the documentary special "A World of Harry Potter: The Craftsmanship Behind the Magic" has firmly established itself at the top of HBO Max and has not left first place for a week after its release on April 5.
The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the first season of the series, which adapts "The Philosopher's Stone." It showcases the sets, costumes, visual effects, and casting process, as well as interviews with key project participants. Among them are Nick Frost (Hagrid), John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), and Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape).
Special attention is paid to the search for actors for the roles of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as the approach to rethinking the familiar story in a series format. HBO plans to develop the project over ten years, which will allow for a deeper exploration of the events and characters than was possible in the films.
The success of the special episode is indicative against the backdrop of discussions surrounding casting and the need to reboot the franchise. Despite the disputes, interest in "Harry Potter" remains consistently high, and the new series is already attracting a wide audience during the promotion stage.
The premiere of the "Harry Potter" series is scheduled for the end of 2026.