Harry Potter TV series promises to be more faithful to the books
Like it or lump it, a Harry Potter reboot is coming. As fans navigate their love of the Wizarding World and potential conflict with the views of author J.K. Rowling, now might not be the best time to announce you're taking the childhood favourite and attempting to cash in on it all over again.
It's been 12 years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 left cinemas, and while that's an age in terms of Batman or James Bond reboots, it seems like only yesterday Daniel Radcliffe was playing the Boy Who Lives. Still, a Harry Potter TV series is coming.
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.
- UK:
Harry Potter TV series will stay closer to the books
Click to enlargeWhile the silver screen was once making bank, the golden era of television is truly upon us. It started with a slow trickle of A-listers like Anthony Hopkins and Meryl Streep popping up in Westworld and Big Little Lies, but now, The Last of Us, The Boys, and House of the Dragon are thriving while the box office trundles along.
Looking back at earlier Potter movies like The Philosopher's Stone, Chris Columbus stayed relatively faithful to the books. Following Columbus' departure with The Chamber of Secrets, we rattled through directors and some very different styles. By the time we got to the two-part Deathly Hallows, there simply wasn't time to fit everything in.
Speaking to Total Film, Executive Producer David Heyman said, "It's early days. We haven't even hired a writer to begin writing. It's a bit early. But hopefully [it will be] something that’s very special, and gives us an opportunity to see the books, and to enjoy a series which explores the books more deeply."
The Harry Potter movies missed some major plot points
Click to enlargeAlongside the frankly abhorrent crime that Peeves never features (although Rik Mayall did film the part), characters like John Cleese's Nearly Headless Nick and Zoë Wanamaker's Madam Hooch were phased out without us noticing.
The Quidditch World Cup was cut to a post-match celebration, Neville never got to visit his parents at St. Mungo's, and what about Hermione's Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.) or the inclusion of Winky? Also, never forget Harry's Triwizard winnings are supposed to help fund the Weasley joke shop.
Other key moments, like Peter Pettigrew's gruesome death by his own artificial hand and the backstory of the Marauders, are completely missing in action. Potter purists question how seemingly major plot points can be left out. With the scope of multiple hours and multiple seasons, the Harry Potter TV series can do it differently.
The problem is, will we ever get there? There's already been a lukewarm reception to the announcement of a live-action Harry Potter series, and counting your chickens before they've hatched, it's brave to promise you'll turn all seven books into an epic saga. Maybe get the pilot out of the way first.
