Gary Oldman Says HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Will Be “More Satisfying” Than The Movies

Gary Oldman is weighing in on the HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter saga and says one key difference from the films will make it “more satisfying” for fans.

In a new interview, the actor who played Sirius Black across multiple movies in the Harry Potter universe revealed why he thinks the TV series will have an advantage over the films.

“We had to cut a lot, and still we could only get the films down to, like, three hours,” Oldman told Entertainment Weekly. “I believe [the TV series is] gonna do it pretty much word-for-word, which I think, as a viewer, would be more satisfying.”

Oldman, who first appeared in the films in 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, said that “a lot of character detail was sacrificed,” which the series could develop further.

The actor said he was “grateful” to be part of the Harry Potter franchise, calling it a “phenomenon,” and added, “I don’t think you’re ever gonna see again.”

“When you think of that initial cast, someone in the story who doesn’t get a lot of credit anymore is Chris Columbus, who set the world up and cast it,” he said. “We were extraordinarily lucky to have those people come back again, and again, and again, and literally grow into those roles.”

Oldman would reprise his Sirius Black role with a cameo in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He then appeared in 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The actor’s last appearance was a cameo in 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.

The Harry Potter series will debut in Christmas 2026 on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone‘s logline reads, “There is nothing special about Harry Potter – or so his Aunt Petunia tells him. But when a mysterious letter of admission to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the door to a hidden world of magic, friendship and adventure. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry must find the courage to prove himself against the darkest wizard of all.”

The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Elijah Oshin as Dean Thomas, Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Finn Stephens as Vincent Crabbe, William Nash as Gregory Goyle, Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick and Sirine Saba as Pomona Sprout.