A live-action Harry Potter show is reportedly in the works at HBO Max. Harry Potter became a bonafide phenomenon over the last few decades. The books, penned by J.K. Rowling, spawned eight films that directly adapted the novels following the core trio of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. All together, the films grossed over $7 billion at the box office and have continued to be popular in syndication and at-home media.
The Fantastic Beasts film saga serves as a prequel to the films. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Fantastic Beasts is a planned franchise of five films and explores the Wizarding World at the beginning of the 20th century. That saga has been plagued by controversy, as Rowling has been called out for her transphobic remarks over the last year. The series also recently asked Johnny Depp to resign after domestic abuse allegations resulted in the star losing a defamation lawsuit against UK tabloid The Sun.
Still, the series' popularity persists and it appears WB is looking to capitalize on that. A Harry Potter series is in very early development, according to THR. The studio has reportedly held exploratory meetings to flesh out ideas for the show that would be an HBO Max exclusive. Both HBO Max and Warner Bros. have denied the claims that a series is in the works and there are no writers attached to the project, indicating just how early it is in the development process.
Like many established franchises, the possibilities are endless when it comes to a Harry Potter television series. The most obvious choice, and likely the one fans want the most, would be one that directly follows up the immensely popular films. Rowling has established what her famous characters have been up to post-Hogwarts and it seems ripe for an adaptation. Harry's career as an auror has been said to be a perfect entry point for a sequel or future series and bringing back the famous titular character would be one way to revive the franchise, especially considering the state it is currently in.
The Fantastic Beasts series is clearly in trouble. The second film, The Crimes of Grindelwald, underperformed at the box office and was panned by critics. Warner Bros. is hoping to turn that around with the third film, but that remains up in the air. It seems that, after what's happened with Fantastic Beasts, it would be a mistake for the series to explore another prequel story to the films. It would also be odd if they merely chose to retell the story of the original films. A Harry Potter series would either have to follow the characters as they navigate their adult lives or it could explore the lives of their children, something Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a play and sequel, already began to do.
Source: THR
