Last November, Harry Potter was at a crossroads. The Warner Bros. studio had produced all eight films in the main series and three Fantastic Beasts spin-offs. It boiled down the future of the fantasy franchise to two fundamentally different forks:
Since Wednesday we have known which option Warner has chosen: A Harry Potter series that will film the books again, but this time in seven seasons, is on the way. Almost everything speaks against this path and almost nothing in favor of it. Which raises the question:
Why is Warner Bros. doing this? Why not Option 2, a new film starring the original series? The answer to that shows how deep the rift between the popular ex-performer and creator JK Rowling must have become.
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson reportedly didn’t return to Harry Potter because of JK Rowling
The film adaptation of The Cursed Child was arguably Warner’s first choice to revive Harry Potter after the failed Beasts series, according to industry insider Matthew Belloni. In the play, Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear as mature adults. They have children who are now attending Hogwarts Magical School. The adaptation of the stage hit as a blockbuster would have been a nostalgic event, a guaranteed billion hit. The most important requirement for the adaptation: The original cast had to be on board as completely as possible. Without Daniel Radcliffe, there would be no Harry Potter 9.
Apparently this point caused problems: Only Ron actor Rupert Grint, the third Harry Potter pillar, would not have had a problem with a return. Well-informed journalist Jeff Sneider reported on a podcast that Daniel Radcliffe and Hermione Granger actress Emma Watson turned down a return in the 9th film in the series. The alleged reason: JK Rowling. Watson in particular was skeptical. Because the Harry Potter creator has been spreading dangerous statements about trans women for years – and will not be dissuaded from her course. She is therefore criticized by many, if not all, ex-performers and parts of the fandom.
Warner/HB
The original stars at the reunion in January 2022
The fact that the film adaptation of The Cursed Child failed because of Daniel Radcliffe’s and Emma Watson’s dislike of JK Rowling has not been confirmed – but the assumption is reasonable. Watson and Radcliffe have distanced themselves from Rowling on several occasions in the past. The author was not present at the big Harry Potter reunion special a year and a half ago.
Many other crew members and actors from the Harry Potter world have shown solidarity with the trans community in the past and thus differentiated themselves from Rowling. There is a noticeable fracture between the powerful creator and the narrow circle of Harry Potter veterans who are adored by fans.
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Warner Bros. was arguably willing to do whatever it took to make Harry Potter 9 possible anyway. So really everything.
The studio reportedly tried to buy Harry Potter out of JK Rowling
JK Rowling controls the “Harry Potter” trademark. Almost nothing happens in the so-called Wizarding World without their consent – neither on the book market nor in the film world. In order to exercise control over Harry Potter similar to what Disney has over Star Wars, Warner Bros. Buy all the rights from JK Rowling. The studio could then do spin-offs and sequels as merry-go-round and would probably have settled the conflict between the cast and Rowling.
According to insider Jeff Sneider, there have been talks of such a deal. However, according to Sneider, Rowling required one “insane amount” for the rights. The plan shattered on the demands. Warner turned to the reboot series, which JK Rowling agrees with, as opposed to a film adaptation of The Cursed Child. So the old tandem rule, in which Warner coordinates decisions with Rowling, remains.
This way saves the studio billions. The price is different: The Harry Potter series may finally split the franchise. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson could become further estranged from the series now that their roles are being played by others. The decision for the series, which is only welcomed by an uncertain proportion of Harry Potter fans, shows that Rowling’s statements are not without consequences. It shapes the future of the Harry Potter series.
The Harry Potter series is in development. So far there is no start.