It appears Harry Potter isn't done yet. Rumors are currently rife that a TV show is in development for HBO Max, with things reportedly currently in the early stages. That, obviously, has sparked theories aplenty with just about everybody excited over the prospect of more stories from the wizarding world. While we've seen the full story about the Boy Who Lived, and are currently in the midst of the Fantastic Beasts series, more content is always welcome. Especially if it involves Hogwarts.
There are many dark wizards in the Potterverse who deserve a starring role, with the majority having their stories fleshed out far more in the source material than on the big screen so far. So we'll now take a look at 10 who we'd love to see a show about.
Lord Voldemort
Let's start with the obvious. While The Half-Blood Prince did a good job at showing some of Lord Voldemort's backstory, such as his time in the muggle orphanage and his spell as a teenager at Hogwarts, the movie certainly lacked the same detail as the book. There was no mention of his mother Merope, uncle Morfin or grandfather Marvolo - making it something of a missed opportunity.
A Tom Riddle TV show would be hugely exciting and it would be able to right the wrongs of several years ago. It'd be fascinating to follow the Dark Lord after he leaves Hogwarts and watch him rise to power, working in Knockturn Ally and collecting Horcruxes in secret. It would also enhance the threat of Voldemort in the core eight Potter movies and show just why he's the most-feared wizard of all time.
Gellert Grindelwald
At the current time, Gellert Grindelwald is the antagonist of the Fantastic Beasts series. He was portrayed by Johnny Depp for the first two installments but, for the third, Mads Mikkelsen has been cast. The series so far has shown the dark wizard operating at the peak of his powers, making life a living hell for the majority of the wizarding world.
Yet a series showing his actual rise to power, and relationship with Albus Dumbledore, would be a good path to go down. It could show the pair being inseparable during their teenage years, something that's revealed in the Deathly Hallows book, and potentially end with the duel that resulted in Albus' sister Ariana losing her life. The current series is set slightly after all this, so more backstory is definitely worth considering.
Severus Snape
Severus Snape's story is extremely well done during the eight Potter movies, particularly with the way his memories are shown during the flashback sequence in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. However, the clips showing the Potions Master as a teenager and young adult have merely made us crave more.
The glimpses into his past in the final movie of the franchise were a start, but the prospect of a full-on delve into Snape's origins would be tantalizing for just about every fan on the planet. His life at Spinner's End could be detailed, as well as his time at Hogwarts and fall to the dark side. It could end just as Harry's story really begins, with the death of Lily and James Potter at Godric's Hollow. While this is unlikely, we can't help but dream...
Sirius Black
Okay, so Sirius Black is one of the good guys. But those who have read the Prisoner of Azkaban will know that Gary Oldman's character also has a dark side, one that sometimes rears its head. Such as when he tries to kill Snape during his time at Hogwarts after growing tired of the future Potions Master snooping around, trying to get to the bottom of why Remus Lupin would disappear around every full moon.
Furthermore, a show about Sirius' time in Azkaban prison and later escape would also be satisfying. Many details about his getaway were left out of the third movie and a TV show could be a way of rectifying this mistake. It could also involve the other Marauders and, potentially, how they became unregistered Animagus' at such a young age.
Barty Crouch Jr
While Lord Voldemort is probably the most fascinating villain in the wizarding world, several of his Death Eaters are also intriguing. And a TV show about Barty Crouch Jr would be pretty intriguing as well, especially given many details about his past were omitted from the Goblet of Fire movie when that hit theatres back in the winter of 2005.
We don't learn, for example, that his mother traded places with him in Azkaban so he can go free. The book also reveals Barty Crouch Jr was kept in check by a family house-elf named Winky and that his father, Barty Crouch Sr, kept him under control by using the Imperius Curse. The film also makes it seem as though Crouch Jr was arrogant and confident but, in the source material, he's a quivering wreck when the Dementors go to take him away.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Despite being - in her own words - Lord Voldemort's 'most faithful' Death Eater, precious little is actually known about the backstory of Bellatrix Lestrange. She first appears in the Goblet of Fire movie via a memory of Albus Dumbledore, where she's on trial for the tortures of aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom. And when she breaks out of Azkaban in the Order of the Phoenix she's established as a truly loathsome villain, one that cackles after she murders Sirius Black as the Department of Mysteries inside the Ministry of Magic.
Given Bellatrix's significance, a trip down memory lane sounds appealing. It'd be curious to see what shaped her into the character she became, and just how she became such a crucial member of Voldemort's inner circle. Of course, Helena Bonham Carter should return if this is the case, given how brilliantly she did as the character.
Lucius Malfoy
Lucius Malfoy is another whose origins are relatively unknown. Fans learn in the Deathly Hallows book that he was a prefect for Slytherin by the time Severus Snape started Hogwarts and, after his time at the castle, he becomes another major player in Voldemort's game (before he's shunned for his failure to obtain the prophecy in the fifth book and movie).
Again, learning more about Lucius and specifically his time at Hogwarts sounds like something fans would be interested in seeing. Seeing him raise Draco Malfoy and shape his son's twisted future, explaining Draco's abhorrent character, would shed some light on why they behaved like they did: thinking they're better than everybody else, especially muggles and anybody sympathetic to their cause.
Igor Karkaroff
Igor Karkaroff is an interesting character. He was a Death Eater during the events of the first wizarding war before being thrown in Azkaban for his crimes. Once there he makes a deal, giving up several of his allies (including Barty Crouch Jr, much to the shock of everybody involved in the trial) and earns his freedom. After that he becomes headmaster of Durmstrang, overseeing the education of young witches and wizards including Viktor Krim, who is mentored by the former villain during the Triwizard Tournament.
Karkaroff seems to experience many lows and highs, meaning a full-on show about his past would be entertaining to see play out. Durmstrang itself is so mysterious Warner Bros would be able to both explore the teacher's past and the school itself. This seems unlikely but the idea, and its potential, is there nonetheless...
Dolores Umbridge
Despite not being a Death Eater, Dolores Umbridge is definitely comparable. Appearing for the first time in the Order of the Phoenix it soon becomes apparent that she's just as bad as Lord Voldemort himself. She refuses to acknowledge the dark lord's return, tortures and bullies her students and generally makes life for anybody at Hogwarts, including the teachers, as miserable as possible. Umbridge is forced out of the school but then returns to work at the Ministry of Magic and, when Voldemort rises to power, helps capture muggle-borns across the globe.
But why did she behave like this? That's a question we're yet to get answered and a series potentially involving her own time at Hogwarts would be fascinating to see. It would, at the very least, explain what shaped her into such a vile individual.
Salazar Slytherin
Last, but certainly not least, is Salazar Slytherin. Big fans will know he was one of the four founders of Hogwarts, helping to create and open the castle. He left, however, after clashing with Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff over the type of students they allowed into the castle. Salazar wasn't happy that muggle-borns were permitted entry, believing only pure-bloods should get such a privilege.
An origin story about Hogwarts itself perhaps makes the most sense out of all the other entries on this list and Salazar, one of the darkest wizards ever, would have to play a significant role in that. Finally, people would get an answer as to what the creator was like - and why Slytherin house seems to be full of students with similar sinister ideas.