Harry Potter must move beyond J.K. Rowling in order to remain relevant and viable into the future. The upcoming Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will see the cast of the film franchise reunite on screen for the first time since 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two. Although several behind-the-camera stars will also feature in the special, including Chris Columbus, there has been no confirmation that J.K. Rowling, the Wizarding World’s creator, will appear. However, despite her continued influence on the saga and expanded universe, the time has now come for Rowling to take a step back from her most famous creation in order for it to effectively flourish.
Rowling first introduced the world to the boy wizard in 1997 with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The Philosopher's Stone was an instant classic and launched the author into superstardom. Over the following two-and-a-half decades, 6 more books, 10 films, a play and countless spin-off content have solidified the Wizarding World as one of the most successful franchises in literary and cinematic history. However, Harry Potter content is no longer the sure hit for Warner Bros. that it once was. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald made almost $200 million less than its predecessor. The Crimes of Grindelwald was also panned by both critics and fans, while production on the follow-up, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, has been postponed by the pandemic and the recasting of Jonny Depp’s Gellert Grindelwald. The controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling’s comments on transgender people has also turned many audiences off from the Wizarding World.
In order to have a viable future, Harry Potter needs to move on and become bigger than its creator. The Fantastic Beasts films have been met with mixed to negative reviews from fans and critics alike, while Rowling has served as screenwriter and producer on both films. Harry Potter fans are arguably more excited for the Hogwarts Legacy video game than any other upcoming Wizarding World project. Rowling, by contrast, has had no direct involvement in the game’s development. This correlation suggests that fans are ready for the Wizarding World to move beyond the author. This suggests that, despite her importance, Harry Potter may now be better served with Rowling on the periphery.
In order to find inspiration for the future, the Wizarding World should look to Star Wars’ evolution beyond the tight control of George Lucas. The prequel trilogy was similarly received with disappointment by fans. The negative reaction to Lucas’ prequel films was a major factor in the Disney-Lucasfilm deal which saw the Star Wars creator lose ownership of the franchise. Whilst Dinsey’s tenure as creative director of Star Wars has not been all smooth sailing, the future of the universe is in a better place than it was following the release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in 2005. The Mandalorian has been a major success and several more Disney Plus shows are set for release over the next few years. The introduction of new minds into Star Wars projects has been beneficial for the long-term success of the franchise. This provides a template for how Harry Potter can continue to expand into the future, incorporating fresh ideas and voices in the process.
There is still huge adoration for the Harry Potter books and first eight films. The potential for the Wizarding World to reclaim its popularity still exists. However, time is running out as fans continue to turn their backs on the franchise. Harry Potter must be handed over to a new generation of creative voices so that it does not suffer permanent death. Removing Rowling from the creative process may ultimately be one of the most effective, if radical, ways of doing that.
