HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ remake could settle one franchise controversy for good (but it’s dangerous)

HBO’s upcoming remake of the Harry Potter series could solve long-standing issues surrounding the original books and movies, but this approach may be too risky. The Warmer Brothers and HBO are touting the new TV show as a faithful adaptation of the books, but details about how the series will be approached are still limited. The two companies solicited various proposals from writers, and Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod were ultimately selected. Of course, the public still doesn’t know what tone the duo has chosen for the new Harry Potter series, and there are several possibilities.

Similar questions were asked when Warner Bros. first started making Harry Potter movies in the 1990s. Several writers and directors were considered to lead the project, but Chris Columbus was ultimately chosen to direct the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The director’s vision for The Wizarding World established the series, but the other person considered to bring Harry’s story to the screen, David Fincher, would have gone in a completely different direction. It would have been. The director of Fight Club envisioned a darker Harry Potter, which raises some interesting questions. What can a dark and gritty TV remake accomplish?

Dark Harry Potter series will settle ‘for kids’ debate

A more mature Harry Potter would be especially aimed at adults.

It’s entirely possible that Gardiner and Myrod are planning to tell Max a darker version of Harry’s story. The Harry Potter books and movies were aimed at children and teens, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the HBO remake has to be that way. After all, fans of the original Harry Potter are all adults now, so it might make some sense for the TV remake to take a more mature angle. This will primarily require a tonal change, as the foundations of Harry’s story are already quite mature, and the darkest parts of the story are simply portrayed in a way that is pleasing to younger viewers.

There would definitely be something thrilling about a nitty-gritty Harry Potter adaptation, but this could accomplish something within the fandom as well. Although the books and movies are loved by adults and children alike, it’s common for adult Harry Potter fans to be criticized for remaining too tied to the children’s series. Even Miriam Margolyes, the actor who played Professor Sprout in the Warner Bros. film, said adult fans “should stop doing that.” Now that Harry Potter is officially an adult series, a more mature film adaptation could put an end to this controversy.

Making Harry Potter more mature would limit the show’s audience

HBO may not want to exclude viewers under 16

A dark remake of Harry Potter certainly has potential, but this would be a pretty risky move on HBO’s part. There’s a reason Fincher’s proposal was rejected decades ago. Sure, adult viewers might be satisfied with a mature series that ends criticism against them, but the audience for television series would be severely limited. The Harry Potter remake will be big news for viewers of all ages, and a series aimed at a wider audience will likely garner higher ratings. A show aimed at an audience of 16 or 18+ would not be accessible to the most die-hard Harry Potter fans.

It’s not hard to make Harry Potter darker (but the balance would be better)

Harry’s story balances darkness and light

Darker Harry Potter adaptations are just part of the conversation, as the Harry Potter series is already pretty edgy. Harry is a boy whose parents were killed in front of his eyes when he was a baby, and he was forced to live with abusive relatives. He then attends a magic school where he is constantly attacked by an evil wizard who commits gruesome murders, cutting out his soul and mutilating his body. There’s a lot of death, blood, sacrifice, curses, etc., especially in the later Harry Potter books. Of course, Harry Potter books and movies usually only hint at the darkest aspects of Harry’s story.

There are moments in Harry Potter that weren’t fully explored because they would have added to the maturity of the series. Author JK Rowling has long said she would never reveal the actual process of creating a Horcrux because it was so disturbing. Plus, exactly how Peter Pettigrew created the fetal-like body Voldemort used before his resurrection is a dark secret she says she’ll take with her to the grave. These are clearly moments of maturity in the story. All HBO’s Harry Potter remake would have to do is dig a little deeper and make this a darker series right off the bat.

Still, leaning completely into the dark side of Harry Potter might not be the best route for HBO’s remake. The implied grittiness and edginess of the story is part of why it remains popular with adult audiences, but it’s not so overt that it alienates younger fans. Particularly in the first season of the Harry Potter remake based on The Philosopher’s Stone, Columbus needs to bring the narrative levity he mastered in the movies to the screen. Each film can also be a little darker, like the Harry Potter movies. Sure, adult fans may still be criticized, but if they enjoy what they see, who cares?