While Harry Potter has come to an end and Fantastic Beasts still has three more installments, it would only be natural for Warner Bros. to be looking to the future of the Wizarding World franchise. There's not a clear path ahead just yet, but the series of movies and books are so massive that they simply cannot leave the brand dormant for long.
Although the studio is potentially setting up a cinematic franchise through their use of the forthcoming video game Hogwarts Legacy, there are a few other paths the series could take on the big screen. Whether it's based on teases in the films or pre-existing material, these ideas could spawn brand new spin-offs that will appeal to old and new fans alike.
The Tales Of Beedle The Bard
The Tales Of Beedle The Bard are a series of stories within The Wizarding World that are supposedly fictional in nature, but at least have actually been proven to have happened within the universe. The mysterious and slightly confusing Deathly Hallows are heavily featured in the story known as The Tale Of The Three Brothers, a narrative that played out in Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows.
J.K. Rowling actually released a real version of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard which included a number of other stories such as The Wizard And The Hopping Pot and The Fountain Of Fair Fortune. All of these fables have the potential to provide Warner Bros. with unique and compelling spin-offs as they explore lost stories of early interactions between Muggles and Wizards.
The Cursed Child
The Cursed Child is an incredibly successful stage production that is currently running in a few countries. For those who have not yet been able to view the live experience, the production was also released in its original screenplay format. The show sees the continuation of the Harry Potter narrative but many years in the future.
Here Harry, Ron, and Hermione actually have their own children, whom the story is largely based around. Fans have been clamoring for a live-action adaptation so that the original cast can return. Considering there are a few unanswered questions from the Cursed Child as well, there's a great reason to choose this stage play as the next cinematic project.
Quidditch Through The Ages
Quidditch Through The Ages is another title that J.K. Rowling released for charity, which fleshes out the Wizarding World further. Once again, the text is mentioned within the main Harry Potter canon but has been fully written detailing the complex history of the sport.
There are a number of stories within the book which could definitely serve as a spin-off film, much in the way that Warner Bros. adapted Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, whether it's a narrative based on the world's longest game or perhaps a comedic retelling on how the Snitch was originally created (with a real bird). The creation of Quidditch itself would make for an exciting watch and be the first sports film set in the universe.
Hogwarts: A History
In regards to the history of this universe, Hogwarts itself holds a great legacy as demonstrated by its ghosts, architecture, and complex origin story. Hogwarts: A History is an in-universe book that tells of the events of the creation of this great castle.
With the four founders each boasting their own unique narrative, it would certainly be interesting to go back to the beginning of Hogwarts and explore just how it all came to be. There's natural conflict built-in for this spin-off, thanks to the villainous nature of Salazar Slytherin. Most importantly, this adaptation would naturally use a location, Hogwarts, that is well-known and beloved by fans.
The Triwizard Tournament
The Triwizard Tournament is a staple of The Wizarding World, but it's only been prominently featured once throughout the whole Harry Potter saga thus far. There are surely plenty more stories to be told about this cut-throat competition and a standalone film could very much do that.
It would be intriguing to see a tournament from a previous year that is full of just as much drama and conflict as seen in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. It's a familiar setting for fans and could take the perspective of a student who isn't at Hogwarts but rather at a competing school like the Beauxbotons Academy of Magic or the Durmstrang Institute for Magical Learning.
Ilvermorny
Ilvermorny is another school that has been mentioned countless times, especially in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. It would seem very appropriate to get a mini-saga set within the American school so that fans can meet a new cast of characters and see how wizarding studies work abroad.
The increasing presence of Ilvermorny since its introduction does suggest that it could play a more prominent role in the future of the franchise. It would never be a fitting replacement for Hogwarts though, so any series on the institution would have to set itself apart to avoid comparisons and a longing to return to the original.
Ministry Of Magic
The Ministry Of Magic is home to so many different departments, but even after nearly a dozen films, Warner Bros. hasn't even been explored all of them just yet. That needs to change and a sitcom-style show or political thriller might be just the way to do so.
The natural choice is to follow Aurors as they go about their daily business taking down Dark Wizards. Alternatively, though, the court systems would make for a compelling watch and the Muggle department is clearly a comedy gold mine. The possibilities are endless, not only with the subject matter but with the genres that could be used to showcase these ministries.
Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley is home to countless businesses, all of which could provide an interesting story for audiences to enjoy. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes would be a prime location for a spin-off, as it tries to pick up business after the events of the Harry Potter series.
In addition, there are lots of opportunities to craft intriguing narratives from the rest of the shops there, with both The Leaky Cauldron and Ollivanders providing prime locations. There's also the dark path known as Knockturn Alley, which might be the perfect location to launch a mini-series about an anti-hero trapped in the sinister arts. This location is ripe with storytelling potential, and it would behoove WB to take advantage of its endless possibilities.
International Magical Communities
The international community has been previously mentioned in the form of the Triwizard Tournament and Illvermorny itself. There are so many other countries to explore though, as well as their government departments and education systems.
For instance, magical society must work so differently in Australia in comparison to China or Germany. There's certainly an interesting format to explore there, perhaps capitalizing on a fictional travel spin-off that would take audiences around this Wizarding World.
Alternative Timelines
Time travel is a very dangerous component of this fantasy world and alternative timelines could in theory be created. There's definitely something to be said about a concept that takes what fans know and flip it entirely on its head, much like Marvel's What If...?
There are countless ways to change the timeline, from Voldemort ultimately winning, to Harry's parents surviving or perhaps even Dumbledore siding with Grindelwald all those years again. Animation may indeed be the medium to explore the idea further, which would allow filmmakers more possibilities to depict the magical world of Harry Potter.