Summary
Whether anyone has been begging for it or not, theHarry Potterfranchise is getting a massive reboot. Set to be released on the MAX streaming service, thisHarry Potterreboot is set to take Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all the other characters fans know and send them right back to the beginning of the story. Obviously, this means the show will feature a new cast of characters for a new generation to grow alongside.
The problem is that theHarry Pottermovie franchise only ended in 2011, meaning the series only ended just over a decade ago. Somefans are wondering if a reboot is even justifiableif it’s going to come this soon, and that’s not an unfair thing to wonder about. The thing is, depending on how the series is tackled in episode length and episodes per season, the reboot has the possibility to be even more true to the books than the film series ever was.
8
2001–2011
1,179 minutes
$1.2 billion
Total Series Box Office
$7.7 billion
When most people think of reboots, they probably think of entirely unnecessary movies that update a movie but fail to capture the same charm as the original work without adding anything new. Sometimes, when reboots strive to add something new, whatever that new content is just ends up falling flat with audiences, though that often comes down to that addition being a modern addition instead of something from the creator. When it comes to theHarry Potterseries, the movies may have covered a lot of grounds, but just about anyone who’s read through the book series can let the world know that they were far from perfect. The movies actually left out entire characters, fun occurrences in the plot, some iconic locations, and even more backstories.
Outside of the massive additions and changes that can be made from adhering strictly to the books, simply throwing in new actors is bound to make for a shockingly different story. One only needs to look at how different actors tackle popular characters, with a popular example being Spider-Man. A new actor brings something new to familiar characters, allowing for different ways of telling familiar stories. When it comes to the titular character of Harry Potter,Daniel Radcliffe had this to say to Variety:
“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe stated. “I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”
A lengthier series might actually go a long way in making Hogwarts feel like a magical school instead of a setting for magical characters to run around in. There’s that classic example ofHarry Potter not even really casting a spellin the originalHarry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stonemovie. A book might provide longer looks at the spell learning process and allow for each of the many key characters to show off their personality through the learning process. A simple switch of focus to getting through the school year as quickly as possible while highlighting the biggest moments to really spending time with the characters over the course of a school year has the potential to make things immensely different.
What Aspects From The Books Are Missing From The Movies?
As was already mentioned briefly, entire characters, locations, and even subplots are cut from theHarry Pottermovies. An important location that could be added to the series is none other than St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, a location in which some vital backstory onNeville Longbottom’s tragic family historytakes place. It is also the place in which Harry ends up having another run-in with the always pompous Gilderoy Lockhart.
TheHarry Pottermovies are available tostream on Max
When it comes to the school aspect ofHarry Potter, fun events surrounding the ghost Peeves, a mischievous specter, are certain to be added back into the reboot series. Along with that, smaller aspects like Hermione and Ron being prefects, a much more in-depth background for the Marauders, more insight into Voldemort’s backstory and the Gaunt family as a whole, and of course, Hermione’s attempts toadvocate for house elveslike Dobby and the fan-favorite Winky. Being able to experience Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s adventures at the school that don’t directly tie into the ongoing mystery of the year will allow each character to feel a lot more human for the first time.
Seemingly a favorite from the books, more specifically,Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, Ludo Bagman is an example of just one of the many characters that can be added back into the story. Being a bit of a schemer, but actively trying to help Harry in his own unique waythroughout the Triwizard Tournament, Bagman is an interesting figure who was left out of the key events of the film. Others like Winky, Charlie Weasley, and the many other students that Harry is good friends with at Hogwarts can all play a major role in the reboot, meaning there actually is a solid case to be made for a reboot series after all.
Harry Potter
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
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