The actor, who played Sirius Black, tells EW that “a lot of character detail was sacrificed” along the way to fit the runtime of the family films.

Gary Oldman says *Harry Potter *TV show will be ‘more satisfying’ than films because of this change

The actor, who played Sirius Black, tells EW that “a lot of character detail was sacrificed” along the way to fit the runtime of the family films.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

EW's editorial guidelines

and Mike Miller

Mike Miller

Mike Miller is the executive editor on the movies team at . He previously worked as a writer-reporter for PEOPLE and TMZ.

EW's editorial guidelines

September 11, 2026 3:19 p.m. ET

Gary Oldman as Sirius Black in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’. Credit:

- Gary Oldman is talking about the upcoming *Harry Potter* television adaptation.

- The actor, who played Sirius Black, tells * *that the new series will differ from the original films.

- The TV adaptation will present the story “pretty much word-for-word,” unlike the movies, he says.

Gary Oldman believes *Harry Potter** *fans are going to be charmed by HBO’s upcoming television adaptation.

The Oscar-winning actor, who played Sirius Black in the original films, tells ** that he thinks the series will be “more satisfying” for viewers than the movies because the nature of television allows it more space to tell the full story.

“We had to cut a lot, and still we could only get the films down to, like, three hours,” Oldman explains while stopping by EW’s studio at the Toronto International Film Festival. “I believe [the TV series is] gonna do it pretty much word-for-word, which I think, as a viewer, would be more satisfying.”

John Lithgow on ‘Harry Potter’ season 1.

Aidan Monaghan/HBO

When it came to the films, Oldman shares that “a lot of character detail was sacrificed” along the way so that they didn’t extend past their traditional “two-and-a-half-hour window,” adding, “So I wish them luck with it.”

In general, Oldman says that he’s “proud” and “grateful” for his time spent in the Wizarding World “because it is such a phenomenon, the like of which I don’t think you’re ever gonna see again.”

‘Harry Potter’ trailer reveals Quirrell first look, Sorting Hat, and more book moments

Alan Rickman’s ‘extraordinary’ act of kindness on ‘Harry Potter’ set revealed

He continues, “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. We were extraordinarily lucky to have those people come back again, and again, and again, and literally grow into those roles.”

To this day, Oldman adds that he’s still asked to sign photographs of Sirius Black, but admits he hasn’t reflected on his time playing the misunderstood wizard in many years.

“I haven’t really looked back much at all,” he says. “You do look at things like old work… it’s old work. You just don’t revisit it.”

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Oldman made his debut as Sirius Black in the 2004 film, *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*. He would go on to reprise the role in its 2005 follow-up, *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, as well as 2007’s* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* and 2011’s* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. *

Alastair Stout on ‘Harry Potter’ season 1.

Aidan Monaghan/HBO

HBO has not yet announced who will play Sirius in its television adaptation. Based on author J.K. Rowling’s beloved books, the fantasy series, which is set to premiere on Christmas Day, follows Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) and his friends Hermione (Arabella Stanton) and Ron (Alastair Stout) as they embark on adventures while studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A longline for the series 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.”

*Harry Potter* heads to Hogwarts on Christmas Day on HBO. The series will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

- Film Worlds & Fandoms

- Harry Potter Fandom

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Harry”