Warner Bros. has exciting news for fans of the magical world of Harry Potter, as they plan to weave a cohesive narrative universe by linking the eagerly awaited sequel to Hogwarts Legacy with the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series. Dive in to discover more about their vision.
Hogwarts Legacy Sequel to Share “Big Picture Storytelling Elements” with Harry Potter TV Series
Warner Bros. Interactive has officially announced that they are developing a sequel to the wildly successful Hogwarts Legacy, which will directly connect to the upcoming Harry Potter TV series set to launch on HBO in 2026. The original game, released in 2023, has sold over 30 million copies, cementing its status as one of the top games of recent times.
David Haddad, president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, shared with Variety that the company is actively responding to fans' desires for more content within this beloved universe. "We have known for some time that fans are looking for more things in this world, and so we’re spending a lot of time thinking about that," he said. The sequel, despite being set in the 1800s—a period well before the timeline of the Harry Potter series—will incorporate thematic and "big-picture storytelling elements" in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television to ensure a unified narrative across the game and the TV series.
Although details about the HBO Max series remain limited, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO & Max Content, has confirmed that the series will delve deeply into each of the iconic books that have captivated fans for years. This approach will bring fresh perspectives to stories already known from films, books, and fan fiction.
A significant challenge lies ahead in seamlessly blending the game's identity with the TV series, ensuring that connections feel organic rather than forced. Given the historical gap between the settings, how the narratives will converge remains a mystery, yet fans are eager to uncover new lore and secrets about Hogwarts and its legendary alumni through this collaboration.
Haddad credits the success of Hogwarts Legacy with reigniting interest in the franchise across various platforms. "The rest of the company was very curious about what we helped to unlock with ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ last year," he noted.
J.K. Rowling Will Not be Directly Involved in Managing the Franchise
Variety reports that J.K. Rowling, the creator of the Harry Potter series, will not be directly involved in managing the franchise. While Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) keeps her informed through her literary agent, Robert Oberschelp, head of global consumer products at WBD, emphasized that any expansion beyond the established canon is carefully considered. "If we’re going to ever go beyond a canon conversation, we make sure that we’re all comfortable with what we’re doing," he stated.
Rowling's controversial statements have previously led to calls for boycotting Hogwarts Legacy. Despite the boycott, the game achieved remarkable sales, outstripping even iconic titles like GTA San Andreas and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Fans can rest assured that Rowling's controversial views will not influence the narrative of the game or the upcoming HBO series.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Release Date Expected Near Harry Potter HBO Series Debut
Warner Bros. is planning to launch the HBO series sometime between 2026 and 2027, suggesting that the Hogwarts Legacy sequel won't be available before then. Gunnar Widenfels, CFO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has indicated that a follow-up to Hogwarts Legacy is a major priority "in a couple of years down the road."
Given the development time required for such a major game, experts at Game8 predict that the sequel might not hit the shelves until 2027 or 2028. For more detailed predictions on the release date of Hogwarts Legacy 2, be sure to check out our dedicated article below!
