HBO's Harry Potter Remake Could Fix 1 Franchise Controversy Once & For All (But It's Risky)

HBO’s Harry Potter Remake Could Fix 1 Franchise Controversy Once & For All (But It’s Risky)


The upcoming HBO remake of the Harry Potter series could settle a long-running issue surrounding the original books and movies, but this approach may be too risky. Warmer Bros and HBO have advertised the new TV show as a book-faithful adaptation, but there are still limited details regarding how the series will be approached. The companies heard out a variety of pitches from writers, and Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod were ultimately chosen. Of course, the public doesn’t yet know what sort of tone this duo chose for their new Harry Potter series, and there are a handful of possibilities.

There were similar questions when Warner Bros first began adapting Harry Potter to the screen in the 1990s. A handful of writers and directors were considered to lead the project, but it ultimately fell to Chris Columbus to adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This director’s vision for The Wizarding World established the franchise, but another person considered to bring Harry’s story to the screen, David Fincher, would have gone an entirely different direction. The Fight Club director envisioned a much darker Harry Potter, and this brings up an intriguing question—what could a dark, gritty TV remake achieve?

A Darker Harry Potter Series Would Fix The “It’s For Kids” Controversy

A More Mature Harry Potter Would Be Aimed Specifically At Adults

It’s perfectly possible that Gardiner and Mylod plan to bring a darker version of Harry’s story to Max. The Harry Potter books and movies were aimed at children and teens, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the HBO remake has to be. After all, original Harry Potter fans are all grown up now, so it could make some sense for the TV remake to take a far more mature angle. This would require mostly tonal changes since the foundation of Harry’s story is already quite mature—the darkest pieces of the story are simply portrayed in a palatable way for younger audiences.

There would undoubtedly be something thrilling about a Harry Potter adaptation that leans into the nitty gritty, but this could achieve something within the fandom as well. The books and movies are loved by adults and children alike, but it’s common for grown-up Harry Potter fans to be criticized for remaining so connected to a kids’ series. Even actor Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the Warner Bros movies, has said that adult fans “should be over that by now.” A more mature adaptation would put an end to this controversy since Harry Potter would officially be an adult series.

Making Harry Potter More Mature Would Limit The Show’s Audience

HBO May Not Want To Cut Out The Under-16 Crowd

Harry Potter cloaked in darkness

While a dark Harry Potter remake certainly has potential, this would be a pretty risky move on HBO’s part. There’s a reason Fincher’s pitch was denied all those decades ago. Sure, adult audiences may be happy with a mature series that ends the criticism against them, but the TV series’ audience would be significantly limited. The Harry Potter remake will be big news for audiences of all ages, and a series that is inclusive for a broader range of ages will ensure high viewership. A show for audiences 16 or 18 plus would mean that less devoted Harry Potter fans would be able to watch.

The Fantastic Beasts movies are aimed at older audiences, and they performed significantly lower than the Harry Potter movies.

It Wouldn’t Be Difficult To Make Harry Potter Darker (But A Balance Is Better)

Harry’s Story Balances The Dark & Light

A darker Harry Potter adaptation is only a part of the conversation because the book series is already pretty edgy. Harry is a boy whose parents were murdered in front of him when he was a baby, so he was sent to live with his abusive relatives. He then attends a magical school where he is continuously attacked by an evil wizard who commits terrible murders to sever his soul and disfigure his body. There is death, blood, sacrifice, curses, and much more, especially in the later Harry Potter books. Of course, the Harry Potter books and movies typically only alluded to the darkest aspects of Harry’s story.

The Harry Potter books and movies typically only alluded to the darkest aspects of Harry’s story.

There are moments in Harry Potter that couldn’t be fully explored since it would raise the maturity level of the series. Author JK Rowling has long said she would never reveal the actual process of making a Horcrux since it is far too disturbing. Additionally, precisely, how Peter Pettigrew created the fetus-like body Voldemort used before his resurrection is a dark secret she says she will take to the grave. These are clearly mature moments within the story—all the HBO’s Harry Potter remake would have to do is dive in a little deeper to quickly make this into a darker series.

Still, leaning fully into the darker aspects of Harry Potter might not be the best route for HBO’s remake. The implied gritty and edginess of the story is part of why it has remained popular with adult audiences, but it’s not so overt as to keep younger fans away. Especially in the Harry Potter remake’s first season, which will be based on Philosopher’s Stone, the lightness of the tale that Columbus mastered in his movie must be brought to the screen. Like the Harry Potter movies, each installment can get a little darker. Sure, adult fans may still be criticized, but if they enjoy what they see, who cares?

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