It’s been more than 30 years since the audience fell in love with the cinematographic representation of young Harry Potter, a promising wizard who would change the world forever. Today, 11 movies and a whole universe later, the Wizarding World remains popular among old and young viewers, especially those who grew up with the sorcerer’s books and films. J.K. Rowling, the author of the franchise, imagined a magic setting for misfits to find the place where they belonged. This magic world not only exists in media but also has spawned into theme park areas and attractions, ensuring the saga’s popularity for years to come.
However, not everything shines in the franchise’s future. Fantastic Beasts, the spin-off movie series based on Newt Scamander and the World War II era of the wizarding world, fell short of its predecessor. After three movies and an uncertain future, there is little to say about Scamander’s next movie renditions. Even though this spin-off series met with several controversies that surely affected its original five-part premise, there is still momentum for Warner Bros. to grasp. To let it go is to waste it, as there are also signs of aging for the Harry Potter saga than would profit from a new proper spin-off.
Why Is It Time For a New Spin-Off?
Warner Brothers Pictures
Thirty years might not seem that old for a saga’s first entry. The last Harry Potter movie is barely a decade old now (omitting the Fantastic Beasts series). Nevertheless, in terms of visual effects, the first films aren’t as dazzling as they used to be. Far from being poorly executed, younger audiences might not like what they see if they start watching the movies today. Furthermore, viewers and readers who grew up with Harry Potter know how the saga takes a dark turn in the middle, with gloomier themes. What was once a brilliant move as the movies came out is more inconvenient for new viewers.
In particular, parents that want to introduce their kids to this magical world might find the later entries a bit too obscure for them. On the other hand, more mature audiences who missed it in the first place might believe it’s too childish for them. Fantastic Beasts tried to fight this to a certain extent, but, with controversies on the side, the creators were so confident in its success that they devised a 5-entry saga which ultimately was cut short (at least for now), leaving the most interesting and adult-themed stories hanging.
As Harry Potter’s story is still the main draw of the franchise, a new spin-off should at least orbit in the character’s context. There is no need for a reboot for the time being, but what clearly should be a thing of the past is the extended narrative of multiple movies that take a couple of years to release each new entry. The answer to this is obvious and has already been teased: a show for the streaming era.
What Should Warner Bros. Do Now?
Warner Bros. Pictures
There are many fantastic storylines that could further develop into a great show. Even Ralph Fiennes, who played Voldemort, has chipped in with ideas for the saga. The most resonant ones are precisely Voldemort’s backstory and rise to power, or even Severus Snape’s teenage years. A tie-in with the Harry Potter saga would be advantageous, as it’s the most beloved franchise, and could boost a rewatch of the original movies.
Whatever Warner Bros. chooses to use for a streaming spin-off, they should mind two things. The first one is to appeal to more adult audiences. This doesn’t mean that it should be a mature series, but they should keep in mind that those who love the franchise from the start are adults today and need more developed narratives rather than making magic the center of the plot. It could be a similar scenario to Game of Thrones (sans the more erotic aspect) that showcases all the political disputes between wizards and muggles (something Fantastic Beasts hinted at but left aside later on).
The second element that the spin-off could benefit from is a shorter duration. A one-season self-conclusive miniseries with potential for a second season but not dependent on it would do wonders for the franchise. Extensive narratives have been crucial for the early stage of the saga, but now it’s time for shorter ones. In that sense, Harry Potter could learn a thing or two from Star Wars, a franchise that knows how an expanded universe works, even if not everything produced is memorable.
Audiences are still eager for fantastic universes. Harry Potter is still relevant today and its popularity is far from extinguishing. Nevertheless, Fantastic Beasts’ flop is not a complete failure. There are many relevant elements from the story that can be saved for further spin-offs, and poor performance is only an invitation for a more interesting bet. Letting the momentum go will only freeze the franchise’s current status for a couple of years, which is not a bad thing per se.
Still, for the studios, this means not cashing on its biggest property, and for fans, it’s a bittersweet stage where they cling to the old movies and lose interest in the universe’s expansion. We can only hope for Warner Bros. to pick up its wand and surprise us with a charming show before the magic starts to fade.
