HBO confirms Harry Potter series will not include narrator amid online rumors

HBO has officially denied recent rumors claiming that its upcoming Harry Potter television series will include a narrator, according to a report by Deadline’s Jake Kanter.

Speculation began circulating across online fan forums, entertainment aggregator accounts, and British media outlets suggesting that the series would have a voiceover component. The rumor reportedly stemmed from a post by Redanian Intelligence, which alleged that British actor Tom Turner — known for his work in Beauty and the Beast — had been cast as the show’s narrator.

While Turner’s voice agency promotes his “rich” and “luxurious” vocal tone, HBO sources told Deadline that there is no narrator planned for the upcoming adaptation, which is currently in production in the UK and expected to premiere in 2027.

The highly anticipated series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Additional cast members include Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.

Behind the scenes, Francesca Gardiner — best known for her work on Succession — serves as the show’s writer, showrunner, and executive producer, while Mark Mylod, also from Succession, will direct multiple episodes and act as an executive producer.

Filming has been underway for several months, with the project expected to deliver a faithful, long-form adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved fantasy novels.