Don't get hyped about the live-action Hogwarts Legacy rumours
As the likes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Last of Us look like they're turning the maligned medium around, we're on a bit of a run right now with video game adaptations. Following Hogwarts Legacy's early success, could the Harry Potter prequel be next?
Just two weeks after Hogwarts Legacy released, the open-world Harry Potter game is already breaking franchise records and topping the charts. Despite controversies and boycotts, the game has shown there's still a loyal fan base raising its wands for the Wizarding World.
Disclaimer: While the creator of the Harry Potter franchise was not directly involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy, their comments on social media around transgender people are hurtful and dangerous given the size of their platform.
We’d implore you to read our explainer of the controversy so far, and consider supporting trans rights charities where possible.
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Is a live-action Hogwarts Legacy series on the way?
Click to enlargeWhile there were recent whispers of a franchise of Hogwarts Legacy sequels, a new rumour claims a live-action series based on the famed school of Witchcraft and Wizardry could be next.
This comes courtesy of Giant Freakin Robot, with other outlets quickly jumping on the story. According to GFK, "sources" have told the outlet that a Hogwarts Legacy TV series is in early development at HBO Max.
It's a nice idea to imagine Simon Pegg leaping from voicing Phineas Nigellus Black to play him in live-action, let's not count our dragon eggs before they've hatched. GFK has a divisive reputation with its reports, and much like other supposed "insiders," we're warned to err on the side of caution.
The site has a "confirmed" section for stories it was right about, but it comes after it gained a reputation for being a shaky source. At the time of writing, there's no official word of a Hogwarts Legacy series, and as we've just had a massive WB investor call, you might've expected an announcement from that.
What next for the Potterverse?
Considering Hogwarts Legacy has shipped 12 million copies and made a jaw-dropping $850 million as Warner Bros.' biggest-ever launch, it's no surprise those at the top are looking to expand the IP. Then again, the recent box office bombing of the Fantastic Beasts series means WB is treading carefully.
Also, to give the green light to a Hogwarts Legacy series after just two weeks seems quick by anyone's standards. Bear in mind, we don't even have a Hogwarts Legacy DLC, as Avalanche Software has confirmed there are currently no plans for one.
There are definitely plans for the Potterverse, with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav saying last November (via Variety) he'd be open to striking a deal for more Potter movies with J.K. Rowling. Still, we're likelier to get the rumoured Harry Potter and the Cursed Child adaptation over Hogwarts Legacy.
No matter what, we're sure there's a crop of up-and-coming actors ready to jump at the chance of auditioning to play a young Albus Dumbledore and join the impressive lineage of Harris, Gambon, and Law.