Ron Hermione and harry in the Harry Potter franchiseWarner Bros. Pictures
Published 14 minutes ago
Aya Tsintziras is a MovieWeb writer covering TV who lives in Toronto and has been an entertainment journalist for the past 11 years. Before MovieWeb, she wrote for ScreenRant, GameRant, The Things, and We Got This Covered.
Aya began writing when she was young and discovered her love of TV watching ’90s horror shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (which she still has nostalgic feelings for today). Watching ’90s teen dramas like *Dawson’s Creek *and My So-Called Life instilled in her a lifelong love of the narrative medium of television.
When not writing, she’s usually reading a good book, watching a horror movie, catching up on podcasts, or going for long walks ar…
Ron Hermione and harry in the Harry Potter franchiseWarner Bros. Pictures
Published 14 minutes ago
Aya Tsintziras is a MovieWeb writer covering TV who lives in Toronto and has been an entertainment journalist for the past 11 years. Before MovieWeb, she wrote for ScreenRant, GameRant, The Things, and We Got This Covered.
Aya began writing when she was young and discovered her love of TV watching ’90s horror shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (which she still has nostalgic feelings for today). Watching ’90s teen dramas like *Dawson’s Creek *and My So-Called Life instilled in her a lifelong love of the narrative medium of television.
When not writing, she’s usually reading a good book, watching a horror movie, catching up on podcasts, or going for long walks around her neighborhood.
Over a decade after the final film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, arrived in theaters in 2011, HBO announced it was making a *Harry Potter *TV series, which quickly got everyone thinking about perfect casting ideas and how this version could be better than the movies. Hopefully, some memorable book scenes from J.K. Rowling’s series will be featured and fans won’t be disappointed.
With the Harry Potter series expected to be released in 2027, fans have a lot of time to think about exactly what they want to see. However, that doesn’t mean rewatching the movies is the only way to become immersed in a magical world that is completely unlike our own. Whether it’s a TV series about the ups and downs of being a witch or a fantasy epic canceled sooner than anyone wanted, these great shows will deliver all the mystery, lore, and strong characters any Hogwarts fan is looking for.
‘The Magicians’
SyFy
Adapted from Lev Grossman’s book series, ***The Magicians *****aired for five seasons on SyFy from 2015 to 2020 and has all the close-knit friendships and great world-building of Harry Potter. Thanks to the memorable setting of Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, it will appeal to anyone who grew up wishing they could receive a Hogwarts acceptance letter via an adorable owl and learn to play Quidditch.
It’s fun to learn more about this school (even if there is no intriguing Hogwarts House system), and the setting alone makes it a great pick, but* The Magicians *also has a sweet friend group, just like Harry Potter. If you love watching Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger’s (Emma Watson) adventures, you’ll likely watch one episode of *The Magicians *and want to keep going. Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve) and Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) have a compelling friendship, and like Harry and his pals, they quickly learn about the risks of magic.
‘The Wheel of Time’
Prime Video
Fantasy fans are still sad about Prime Video canceling The Wheel of Time after three seasons, but at least there are 24 captivating and binge-worthy episodes. Although there is no doubt quite a bit of lore in the *Harry Potter *universe, The Wheel of Time’s lore is arguably even more detailed and impressive.
It’s easy to compare The Wheel of Time’s main villain, The Dark One, to Voldemort, but beyond that, the Prime Video series also boasts a determined group of characters who team up to battle evil. It’s not a straightforward adaptation of the book series by Robert Jordan, and like Harry Potter, viewers can enjoy it without having read the novels (although in this case, it’s helpful to have that background considering how much is going on). Rosamund Pike is fantastic as Moiraine Damodred and her performance will likely hook most after even just a few episodes.
‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’
Starring Kiernan Shipka as young witch Sabrina Spellman, Netflix’s four-season series *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina *shares the same light-hearted tone as Harry Potter. It also has a relatable main character who goes on a moving journey to learn who they really are as they discover their magical abilities.
*Sabrina *is a somewhat darker take than the nostalgia-inducing 1990s sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch starring Melissa Joan Hart, which features silly storylines like Sabrina turning a baby into an adult man because she can’t control her powers. However, it’s only slightly creepy rather than downright terrifying. It’ll mostly appeal to *Harry Potter *fans because of how much fun it is to watch the protagonist cast spells, fight darkness, and get into trouble. *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina *also features a few stand-out villains, like Season 1’s Batibat, a demon who scares Sabrina and her quirky aunts when they’re sleeping.
‘Wednesday’
Netflix
The Hogwarts and Nevermore Academy comparisons are almost too easy, but it’s hard not to think of Jenna Ortega’s popular Netflix series when reflecting on Harry’s time as a Gryffindor. ***Wednesday *****Season 2 arrived on the streaming service in August and September 2025 **and continues the *Harry Potter *tradition of depicting a compelling world where humans and creatures/witches/characters with supernatural powers coexist.
Part of what makes *Harry Potter *so interesting is that Harry and his classmates are in a bubble and don’t have to pretend to be regular children or teenagers. While that can be great, it’s been done countless times. Wednesday’s misfit main characters are also celebrated for being different, and therefore, their conflicts are with each other rather than the outside world. Season 2 has some missteps and still doesn’t feature enough of the beloved Addams family members, but the fun Nevermore setting makes up for that.
‘The Witcher’
Netflix
Whether you prefer watching Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth play Geralt of Rivia, there’s no denying that **The Witcher is one of Netflix’s most popular fantasy series. With The Witcher Season 5 likely arriving in fall 2026, hopes are high that the last season will deliver, especially since many weren’t happy with Season 4.
Sure, not every episode is fantastic, but *The Witcher *and *Harry Potter *share a similar premise of main characters trying to stop evil, although both settings couldn’t be more different. Rather than a school that teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts and has an old-fashioned, beautiful dining hall, *The Witcher *takes place on The Continent, which seems like medieval Europe. There’s no doubt that Harry’s world makes a lot more sense than this one, but there’s a certain thrill in trying to put all the pieces together of the various timelines.
‘A Discovery of Witches’
Sky One
Looking for a TV series that captures the academic vibe of *Harry Potter *but has even more epic romance? **A Discovery of Witches is adapted from the book series by Deborah Harkness **and stars Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode as a witch and vampire who fall in love.
Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont’s relationship is set against the backdrop of Oxford University. It may not be quite as special as Hogwarts, but it’s still a fascinating setting. Since Diana is an academic and Matthew teaches Biochemistry, the show celebrates smart characters who enjoy learning, which is refreshing. If you agree that the love stories in the Harry Potter movies aren’t as well-done as they could be, you’ll appreciate the complexity with which *A Discovery of Witches *handles Diana and Matthew’s feelings and chemistry (along with all the threats they battle).
‘Stranger Things’
Netflix
A satisfying story about magic needs more than just spells, shocking moments, and massive battle scenes. It has to have characters who steal your heart, and that’s exactly why *Stranger Things *is a must-watch for basically everyone. Chances are that you’ve seen Netflix’s coming-of-age epic that combines horror and sci-fi, whether you’re a *Harry Potter *devotee or casual fan. No one should miss out on the battles against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the mystery of Hawkins, Indiana and the alternate dimension of the Upside Down.
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends have made just as big an impact on popular culture as Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and when Stranger Things Season 5 ends on December 31st, it’s going to be hard to say goodbye to their exciting adventures. Just like there’s hope that HBO’s *Harry Potter *show will do a few things better than the movies, the large *Stranger Things *fan base is curious about the upcoming spin-offs, including the animated Tales from ’85.
Showrunner Francisca Gardiner
Directors Mark Mylod
Writers Francesca Gardiner
Franchise(s) Harry Potter
Dominic McLaughlin
Harry Potter
Minerva McGonagall
Albus Dumbledore
Hagrid