Harry Potter has spanned a book series, two movie franchises, and a play, so it shouldn't come as a shock to find out that JK Rowling has her eyes set on a new medium: television. Reports broke on Monday that Warner Bros. and HBO Max are in early talks for a Harry Potter TV show — though unconfirmed, it really is the only logical step. But should the series move forward, the biggest question remains: what will the Harry Potter TV series be about?
In a statement, HBO Max and Warner Bros. insisted to The Hollywood Reporter that there were "no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform." But just because it isn't officially in "development" doesn't mean there hasn't been preliminary talks. According to THR's report, the network and studio are still discussing possible ideas, and no writers or showrunners have been hired.
As The Rowling Library, a digital magazine dedicated to the works of J.K. Rowling, tweeted, the news could be a way for the studio to gauge audience enthusiasm for a potential Harry Potter show. And, in that spirit, fans have already started brainstorming ideas for what a Harry Potter show could actually be about. I spoke to Patricio Tarantino, founder of The Rowling Library to find out what one professional fan thinks about the news.
A Harry Potter Remake
While a re-imagining of the Harry Potter book series seems unlikely, Tarantino says he'd love to see the show tackle Harry Potter's story "because there is no new material, no risk, and probably more time to expand things that were left out from the films." Things that were once left on the cutting room floor— Peeves the poltergeist, Neville's parents — could finally get their time in the spotlight if the show re-adapted the books. Still, as much as Tarantino would like it, he agrees it's not likely. "It is hard to justify because the excitement will not be the same," he admits.
The Marauders
Potterheads have been begging for a Marauders movie — focusing on the wild teenage years of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew — for years. Some have even made their own — Broad Strokes' 2016 fan film "Severus Snape and the Marauders" has over 9 million views on YouTube. In fact, when rumors began swirling about a potential Harry Potter series in 2019, Nerdist's Michael Walsh expressed his hopes that the show would focus on the Marauders and, in the future, the first Wizarding War against Voldemort. Now that the rumors are circulating once more, fans are demanding more Marauders content on Twitter.
Tarantino, however, says that he thinks a Marauders series would be "playing it safe."
The Founders
Hogwarts is central to Harry Potter, and yet there's a lot we don't know about the school and its founders. Yes, the Sorting Hat tells us in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix how Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin first made their Houses and divided their students, but there's still so much we don't know. I would definitely be down to watch a historical drama about Gryffindor's desire to integrate muggle-born students into the school, and his fight with Slytherin, who wanted to keep Hogwarts pure-blood only.
Hermione Granger, Minister of Magic
One fan on Twitter suggested a sequel series focus on Hermione Granger's life as the Minister of Magic, as teased in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This could be a fun way to give fans a break from the Good Wizard vs. Dark Wizard construction of the two major HP franchises. It can be Harry Potter meets The West Wing.
A Young(er) Dumbledore
One idea Tarantino is particularly intrigued by is a series that would focus on a young Dumbledore — yes, younger than the Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts series. Not only would it connect all the major Harry Potter franchises thus far, but it would also give the Harry Potter brand a chance to commit to LGBTQ representation in light of JK Rowling's controversial statements on gender and sex.
Despite noting many times in interviews that Dumbledore was gay, Rowling has remained cagey on the question of whether fans will actually see his sexuality on screen. And while future Fantastic Beasts films could provide an opportunity to explore Grindelwald and Dumbledore's relationship as lovers-turned-enemies, having a show about Dumbledore's time as a student of Hogwarts would make for an even better and more complete storyline. "Their romance was much more important to that storyline [when they were younger], and considering they will probably leave out most of it in the [Fantastic Beasts] films, it will be like a redemption from Warner Bros. if they include it on the streaming service," Tarantino notes. (He also added that The Rowling Library does not "agree with her gender views.")
Regardless of what the series is about, now would definitely be a good a time for Harry Potter to start honoring its LGBTQ characters and fans alike.
Image: Screenshot via Wizarding World/YouTube