Magic, Nostalgia and Expectation: Why the New Harry Potter Series Risks Falling Short of the Films

In June 1997, Bloomsbury first published J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom. Since then, six further books were produced and translated into over eighty-five different languages, followed then by eight film adaptations, a prequel series that consists of a further three films, and a stage show that has been in theatres since 2016. It goes without saying that this franchise has built a continuously popular fanbase, and is rated as one of the biggest fandoms that has stood the test of time. With the announcement of the new TV show adaptation, and subsequent trailer, the question that remains is why mess with the classics?

If you were to ask me what began my obsessive personality with fictional franchises, I would have to say that it was Harry Potter. I was about ten years old when my parents first introduced me to the films, and since that moment I was hooked. I remember watching them, practically back-to-back, and was enthralled by the characters, settings, storylines – you name it, which then led me to read all the books within the space of a month. The wizarding world remains such an integral part of my childhood, and truth be told I could definitely still quote the films word for word. I have also visited the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Leavesden at least twelve times. From housing ceremonies to chocolate frogs, I was entirely captivated by this universe, so the announcement of the new TV show adaptation has left ten-year-old me feeling uneasy – how could they possibly live up to such a beloved franchise?

I have never understood the need to redevelop previously existing films

When a production company agrees to remake films or TV shows that have already been made prior and have such a widespread fanbase, all that can be led to believe is that motivations behind it were economical. I have never understood the need to redevelop previously existing films, or transform classical books into high-definition, twenty-first century spectacles – I did just watch the new “Wuthering Heights” so I may be projecting here. The new trailer for the Harry Potter TV show follows the events of the first book, where eleven-year-old Harry receives his letter to attend Hogwarts, and we follow through his first year, making loyal friends, encountering enemies new and old, and navigating life as a wizard through lessons, quidditch and dealing with He Who Must Not Be Named – all things which have already been executed perfectly before.

The show, with an entirely new cast, will offer a differing portrayal of character dynamics, and has been designed to cater to original audiences, and reintroduce the franchise to younger viewers, expanding on plotlines and characters (I am looking forward to seeing Peeves the Poltergeist on my screen) that had been excluded from the films due to budget and time constraints. Nevertheless, the new actors that have been chosen to play such influential roles certainly have high expectations placed upon them. Something that I do not think was considered to such an extent were the shoes that these new actors will be filling – Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane – and how this will be received by older audiences who do not wish to see their beloved characters be replaced. One thing I will say about the cast, however, is that I am so unbelievably grateful they got age-appropriate individuals to play the students, including Harry, Hermione and Ron, because too many times in this day and age do I see adults playing younger characters.

There is something about the trailer that really does not sit right with me

Reactions to the new adaptation have proved divisive, and having read through them, one frequent criticism that caught my attention was that the trailer looked reminiscent of an AI version of Harry Potter, which may be the best way to put it. There is something about the trailer that really does not sit right with me. The films released throughout the 2000s are the epitome of childhood nostalgia, and they have this comforting atmosphere about them that the TV show will just not be able to replicate. Through no fault of their own, the high-definition quality of the visuals, sets and costumes that is concurrent with adaptations made in recent years are certainly different to adaptations produced over twenty years ago, which is why I feel doubtful that this series will be an enjoyable watch. The Harry Potter channel that appears on televisions during the festive season is one of my favourite parts of the holiday, and if I have to start watching a TV show instead of the films I do not think I will be happy.

But who knows, maybe I could be wrong? Maybe the show was made with pure intentions, rather than being a money-grab for companies and the author herself. Perhaps, it will be one of the best remakes to ever grace our screens. Unfortunately, I remain sceptical of this, as I feel that no one can replace the beloved characters that shaped my childhood. Only time will tell, and hopefully Christmas will not be tampered with this year – if all else fails we will just use Hermione’s Time-Turner to forget it ever happened!