A new series of Harry Potter book covers highlight the updated looks for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The first book in author J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series was released over a quarter-century ago, kicking off decades of popularity and success for the franchise. The era-defining books were followed up with an equally successful film series, which starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as Harry, Hermione, and Ron, respectively.
While there were some small changes and absent side characters, the Harry Potter films were largely accurate adaptations of the books, faithful to their major plot- and character beats. Some of the more minor changes couldn’t be avoided and were due to the logistics of working with a large number of young actors. For example, while Harry is described as being relatively tall in the books, Radcliffe ended up being on the shorter side at around 5’5". On the other hand, Watson and Grint’s versions of Hermione and Ron were more in line with what Rowling had initially described, and the author herself had stated how impressed she had been by the majority of the casting.
Now, a new series of Harry Potter book covers for a re-release of the series shows reimagined versions of the now-iconic characters. The cover art shared to the Wizarding World site has a very distinct style, with bright colors and dazzling details, which frames the characters that are central to the story of Harry Potter. The titular character takes center stage in the majority of the covers, where he is depicted with his sleek black hair and dark green eyes. Check out the new covers below:
The new covers will become the latest in a long line of artists’ impressions of the world of Harry Potter, and will help to create a new image of the characters as they become a staple on bookshelves across the world. Fans of the series will notice that the art hasn’t just taken inspiration from the books themselves, with some characters bearing a striking resemblance to how they’re depicted in the movies. The design of Professor Dumbledore, for example, seen on the new cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is clearly informed by the version of the character seen on screen with his signature hat.
While the longevity of the Harry Potter book series is indisputable, the Wizarding World franchise’s future looks more complex. The Harry Potter film series was a huge box-office hit, ranking alongside other blockbuster franchises like MCU films and the Star Wars sequel trilogy. However, the Fantastic Beasts prequel series has failed to match those heights, and whether the planned five-movie arc will ever be completed remains to be confirmed. Nevertheless, Harry Potter fans wanting to rekindle their love of the franchise will be keen to nab some copies of the re-released books with their redesigned classic characters.
Source: Wizarding World