‘Harry Potter’ TV show will be “more satisfying” than movies, says Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman has predicted that the new Harry Potter series will be “more satisfying” than the films.

The Oscar-winner starred in the movies as Sirius Black, which were originally released in the 2000s. However, the fantasy series is getting a new reboot as an HBO show, which is due to premiere this December.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Oldman shared why he thinks the new show could have an advantage over the cinema versions.

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

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He suggested that “a lot of character detail was sacrificed” in the films so that they wouldn’t go beyond their “two-and-a-half-hour window”.

“So I wish them luck with it,” he added, before reflecting that he was “proud” and “grateful” for the films, “because it is such a phenomenon, the like of which I don’t think you’re ever gonna see again”.

The Harry Potter series has finished filming its first season, with the second due to commence production this autumn.

Kit Harington was recently confirmed to be playing the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in season two, replacing original star Nicholas Hoult, who left due to scheduling conflicts.

Hoult had faced a backlash for accepting the role due to author J.K. Rowling’s controversial views on gender and the trans community.

A number of the show’s stars have distanced themselves from Rowling’s views, with Bel Powley – who plays Petunia Dursley – saying she “strongly disagrees” with the author. “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance,” she added.

Albus Dumbledore actor John Lithgow said he considered leaving the project, calling Rowling’s views “ironic and inexplicable” while the books are “clearly on the side of the angels, against intolerance and bigotry”.

Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid) said his and Rowling’s views “don’t align in any way, shape or form”, while Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape) signed an open letter calling on the UK entertainment industry to protect trans rights.

Elsewhere, original Ron Weasley star Rupert Grint is set to return to the role in the Broadway production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.