In Just 2 Days, HBO's New Harry Potter Project Becomes an Instant Global Hit

CBR, by Monica Coman

Image via Warner Bros.

When Warner Bros. announced a new adaptation of Harry Potter in April 2023, the news wasn't met with enthusiasm, despite the popularity of the franchise. However, the most recent project, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic, proves the interest is still there.

HBO is releasing a new version of Harry Potter later this year on Christmas. Shortly after the release of the first teaser from the upcoming series, HBO also confirmed another project: a documentary special giving a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming show. It didn't take long for the series to become successful, as Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic is officially the No. 1 title in the world, per FlixPatrol.

Harry Potter's New Special Proves the Franchise Is Still Magical

The 30-minute documentary special debuted on HBO and HBO Max on Apr. 5, and it debuted in second place worldwide in its first day. However, that was merely because the charts hadn't updated, and it only scored 10 No. 1s in its first day. It more than doubled on its second day, as Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic is the No. 1 title in 24 countries.

In the U.S., the documentary special debuted in fourth place. The 2011 animated film Hop is currently topping the charts, as it replaced the John Wick spinoff Ballerina. The Mummy is close behind in third place.

The documentary is split into separate parts and shows the large scale of the upcoming HBO series. The first part includes the casting process for the Golden Trio, which the casting director reveals they chose from over 40,000 auditions. They eventually became enamored with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout, who will play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

The docuseries also features interviews with the rest of the main cast, which includes John Lithgow (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Janet McTeer (Professor Minerva McGonagall), and Paapa Essiedu (Professor Severus Snape). Nick Frost, who will become the new Hagrid, narrates the episode.

The Harry Potter Documentary Confirms Season 1's Episode Count

Image via HBO

Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic also invites viewers to see a glimpse of the new Wizarding World. The new series is filmed in Leavesden, UK, at Warner Bros.' studio lot, where the original eight films were produced. However, the new series will feature original sets and props, including '90s costumes for an era-appropriate vibe, more colorful cloaks for Albus Dumbledore, and extremely intricate set designs and props.

The documentary also touches upon the importance of the long-running franchise. Multiple department heads revealed their strong connection to Harry Potter, not just by page or movies, but through family. Some crew members were previously involved in the eight Harry Potter films, while others continued the family legacy, after their parents worked on the films. The documentary is a testament to Harry Potter's worldwide appeal, both to book fans and movie fans, and their enthusiasm and dedication for the craft shine through, even with the short runtime.

The reason why Warner Bros. rebooted Harry Potter was to give it a more faithful adaptation. The eight films, which were adapted from J.K. Rowling's seven novels, had a longer runtime than normal, and they still had to cut multiple scenes and even characters. A television adaptation would provide more time to delve into the universe. However, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic confirmed Season 1, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone after the first novel, will only have eight episodes.

If each episode is an hour long, the new series will be almost four times as long as the first film, which had a 2-hour and 32-minute runtime. This might not feel enough to officially invite new viewers into the world of Harry Potter, and some episodes might feel rushed. However, despite the ongoing controversies surrounding J.K. Rowling's damaging trans views and the backlash on race-swapping Severus Snape, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic officially confirms the interest in the franchise and how the show might do, eight months before its release.

Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic is streaming on HBO Max. The Harry Potter series debuts on Christmas.

Monica Coman is an experienced entertainment news reporter and editor at CBR, recognized for her expertise in pop culture, film, and television. Her work has been featured across leading entertainment outlets, including The A-List Hype, autoevolution.com, ScreenRant, We Got This Covered, and The Escapist. She brings nearly a decade of experience in digital media and a deep understanding of storytelling and editorial strategy.