Gary Oldman Explains Why the Harry Potter TV Series Could Outperform the Movies

The actor who played Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films hopes that the creators of the new adaptation will take advantage of the television series format.

Gary Oldman believes that the HBO Harry Potter series could turn out to be a more substantive adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Sirius Black actor noted that when working on the feature films, the creators had to cut the source material significantly:

According to Oldman, the cuts particularly harmed details that developed character personalities. The television series format will make it possible to preserve more storylines and give more screen time to characters who only received a few scenes in the films.

For now, these are merely the actor’s expectations, although HBO representatives have previously stated their intention to present a more complete adaptation of the books. In addition, the series will feature new scenes that were not in the original source material. For example, viewers will be shown more episodes from the private lives of the Malfoys, which will offer a deeper look at Draco’s character and his relationship with his parents.

Just how successful the creators will be in expanding the familiar story will become clear soon, as the premiere of the first season of Harry Potter, adapting The Sorcerer’s Stone, is set for December 25, 2026.