Harry Potter: Can The Reboot Be Different Enough From The Movies To Justify Its Existence?

Highlights

• The Harry Potter franchise is getting a reboot that will take the characters back to the beginning of the story, with a new cast for a new generation of fans.
• While some may question the timing of the reboot, a longer series could stay truer to the books and include elements that were left out of the film series.
• The reboot has the potential to introduce new actors who will bring a fresh take on the characters, making the story different and exciting for viewers.

Whether anyone has been begging for it or not, the Harry Potter franchise is getting a massive reboot. Set to be released on the MAX streaming service, this Harry Potter reboot is set to take Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all the other characters fans know and send them right back to the beginning of the story. Obviously, this means the show will feature a new cast of characters for a new generation to grow alongside.

The problem is that the Harry Potter movie franchise only ended in 2011, meaning the series only ended just over a decade ago. Some fans are wondering if a reboot is even justifiable if it’s going to come this soon, and that’s not an unfair thing to wonder about. The thing is, depending on how the series is tackled in episode length and episodes per season, the reboot has the possibility to be even more true to the books than the film series ever was.

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How Can The Harry Potter Reboot Be Different?

When most people think of reboots, they probably think of entirely unnecessary movies that update a movie but fail to capture the same charm as the original work without adding anything new. Sometimes, when reboots strive to add something new, whatever that new content is just ends up falling flat with audiences, though that often comes down to that addition being a modern addition instead of something from the creator. When it comes to the Harry Potter series, the movies may have covered a lot of grounds, but just about anyone who’s read through the book series can let the world know that they were far from perfect. The movies actually left out entire characters, fun occurrences in the plot, some iconic locations, and even more backstories.

Outside of the massive additions and changes that can be made from adhering strictly to the books, simply throwing in new actors is bound to make for a shockingly different story. One only needs to look at how different actors tackle popular characters, with a popular example being Spider-Man. A new actor brings something new to familiar characters, allowing for different ways of telling familiar stories. When it comes to the titular character of Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe had this to say to Variety:

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” Radcliffe stated. “I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

A lengthier series might actually go a long way in making Hogwarts feel like a magical school instead of a setting for magical characters to run around in. There’s that classic example of Harry Potter not even really casting a spell in the original Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone movie. A book might provide longer looks at the spell learning process and allow for each of the many key characters to show off their personality through the learning process. A simple switch of focus to getting through the school year as quickly as possible while highlighting the biggest moments to really spending time with the characters over the course of a school year has the potential to make things immensely different.

What Aspects From The Books Are Missing From The Movies?

As was already mentioned briefly, entire characters, locations, and even subplots are cut from the Harry Potter movies. An important location that could be added to the series is none other than ​​St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, a location in which some vital backstory on Neville Longbottom’s tragic family history takes place. It is also the place in which Harry ends up having another run-in with the always pompous Gilderoy Lockhart.

The Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Max

When it comes to the school aspect of Harry Potter, fun events surrounding the ghost Peeves, a mischievous specter, are certain to be added back into the reboot series. Along with that, smaller aspects like Hermione and Ron being prefects, a much more in-depth background for the Marauders, more insight into Voldemort’s backstory and the Gaunt family as a whole, and of course, Hermione’s attempts to advocate for house elves like Dobby and the fan-favorite Winky. Being able to experience Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s adventures at the school that don’t directly tie into the ongoing mystery of the year will allow each character to feel a lot more human for the first time.

Seemingly a favorite from the books, more specifically, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, Ludo Bagman is an example of just one of the many characters that can be added back into the story. Being a bit of a schemer, but actively trying to help Harry in his own unique way throughout the Triwizard Tournament, Bagman is an interesting figure who was left out of the key events of the film. Others like Winky, Charlie Weasley, and the many other students that Harry is good friends with at Hogwarts can all play a major role in the reboot, meaning there actually is a solid case to be made for a reboot series after all.