More than a decade after the release of the final Harry Potter movie, there is talk of bringing the successful franchise back. Following the formation of Warner Bros. Discovery, president and CEO David Zaslav’s first order of business has been to bring back the most profitable films while sidelining low-performing ones. And while the future of the prequel franchise, Fantastic Beasts, remains unclear, it looks like a Harry Potter reboot might just be in the works.
Since news broke too, the reactions have been mixed. Moreover, there have also been some interesting suggestions on what the franchise should do next.
Some Fans Don’t Want A Harry Potter Reboot…
Even today, the Harry Potter films continue to enjoy global fanfare but not everyone feels the need to bring the franchise back. Some believe it’s unnecessary. “we do not need a harry potter reboot for at least another 50 years are you SERIOUS,” one user wrote on Twitter.
“My villain origin story will begin when there is a Harry Potter reboot,” another remarked.
And while some believe that the reboot, is, ultimately, inevitable, it won’t necessarily be welcomed by everyone. As one Redditor pointed out, “One day there is going to be a reboot of the Harry Potter movies, and an entire generation of us is going to hate everything about it.”
Others Have Some Interesting Reboot Suggestions
Interestingly, some fans have also long thought that it was just a matter of time before Harry Potter made its way back to the big screen. In that case, some offered suggestions on what the title of the ninth film should be, although they are not necessarily related to wizardry.
Over the years, Redditors have posted titles such as “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Firewhisky, Harry Potter and the Half-Priced Drinks, Harry Potter and the Order of Patron, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Scotland Yard.”
There are also some who like the idea of a standalone film where the focus is only Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) himself. “Slice of life Harry Potter!” another Redditor wrote. “Because he doesn't cease to exist in the summers and years between story points. I like the idea of seeing the mundane parts of characters' lives.”
Harry Potter Fans Wouldn't Mind A Harry-Focused Series
And while some don’t like the idea of another Harry Potter movie, there are fans who are open to seeing the franchise return as a series. “I think reboot the movies make no sense. The same constraints apply,” one Redditor explained.
“A TV Series would be better to offer something new in the sense of a more expansive use of the book plots.”
Similarly, another wrote, “I think they should absolutely reboot the original 7 books, but as a TV series, so they can cover more of the material in the books.” And if this is the direction that the franchise would take, then some argue that a series is necessarily a reboot.
“I’m ultimately with others: I don’t know if 'reboot' is the right word, but if they were going to do a big budget TV 'retelling' of all the books, count me right the h*** in,” another Redditor posted.
Are The Harry Potter Stars Willing To Return To The Franchise?
With all this talk of a reboot, it was also a matter of time before the franchise’s stars get asked about the prospect of returning. Radcliffe, for one, appears open to the idea. That said, he doesn’t necessarily want to play the film’s lead character again.
“I would probably want to go with like, Sirius or Lupin,” the actor revealed while speaking on Game Night with Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused. “Those were always the two characters that I was like ‘They’re great.’ And also like, I’m obviously biased by my experience of filming those scenes, with those people, and they’re like some of my favorite memories.”
On the other hand, Bonnie Wright, who famously played Ginny Weasley, has also previously spoken about wanting to delve deeper into her character.
“In terms of what was left out, I mean, I think everyone would have loved every part of their character in the book in the film,” the actress told Us Weekly.
“But I think for me, what I would have loved is just kind of the nuances of the relationship building. I think just having a bit more of that onscreen, I think to see the kind of chemistry and our dynamic develop, I think would have been really helpful and key to their sort of love story and why they end up together.”
Meanwhile, even before all this talk of rebooting Harry Potter from Warner Bros. Discovery, the cast recently got back together for HBO Max’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, which featured Radcliffe and Wright, along with former co-stars Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Wright, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Helena Bonham Carter, Gary Oldman, Evanna Lynch, and the late Robbie Coltrane.
During the reunion, Radcliffe acknowledged that he will always be connected to the franchise. “Every part of my life is connected to Potter.”
