WBD is ramping up a slate of Harry Potter-themed shows, games, and experiences to turn the franchise into a constantly expanding moneymaker for generations to come.
The Big Picture: WBD’s market cap has been on a major downslide for years, thanks to a heavy debt load. So, the company needs hits… and fast. By squeezing every drop of opportunity out of the Potterverse and similar beloved IP, WBD could take a big step towards reversing its fortunes… if audiences show up.
Behind The Scenes: Prepare for a lot of Potter.
The cooking show Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, hosted by James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), drops on Food Network and Max next week.
Several AAA and mobile video games have recently dropped (or are in development), including a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy — the best-selling video game last year.
A Ministry of Magicworld will be a huge part of Universal Studios’ new Epic Universe theme-park expansion, which opens in May.
The biggest bet is a new Harry Potter series created by Succession alum Francesca Gardiner for HBO that will premiere in 2026. Each season will cover one of the books.
Closing Credits: This isn’t the first time that Warner Bros. has tried to expand the Wizarding World. The J.K. Rowling-penned Fantastic Beasts series sort of fizzled out (the controversial Rowling is informed of new projects, but not really creatively involved anymore). Still, WBD knows there’s a lot of Potter love still out there and hopes that building the IP across its narrative and lifestyle channels will be a winning combination. Prepare for the marketing campaign for the new 2026 show to be the biggest in the company’s history.
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