Leading a magical, fantastical
life is a dream a lot of people have, and that’s probably why Harry Potter has become immensely popular worldwide since its release. Now that the film series has come to an end, fans are left craving more. But how much more is necessary without being repetitive?
Last year on Apr. 12, Max confirmed with a short video on X (formerly known as Twitter) that a Harry Potter reboot in the form of a TV show was going to be happening. The release window is set for 2026, with what Max says will be a “faithful adaptation of the iconic books.”
This all sounds exciting, and as a bit of a Potterhead myself I’m looking forward to this new chapter for the Harry Potter franchise. But even I have to ask myself, is this what the franchise needs?
“I’m not sure how to feel about a TV reboot,” says an anonymous QUEST senior. “It would be cool, yes, but the movies were so iconic, so it might be hard to live up to the hype people create.”
According to Screen Rant, the plan for the reboot is that each book will be turned into one season. That allows for a more in depth storyline and more screen time for characters like Neville, who only got 28 minutes and 15 seconds in total from all eight movies. For many younger viewers, who haven’t experienced the magic of J. K. Rowling’s creations, this TV show will be their first view of the Wiza
rding World and they won’t have much perception of how the films influenced the world. For the fans like me, who have read the books and seen the films, the comparisons between the new and the old will be harsh and inevitable.
“I think that the Harry Potter movies were very entertaining and very well made,” says COMPASS senior Hayden Goddard. “However, I do not believe they were as good as the books which I read several times when I was young.”
The wizarding world has been explored in many ways, from the books themselves to J. K. Rowling’s “The Cursed Child” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but there are always new characters and ideas that can be made into something new and exciting. For example, the multiple Harry Potter games like Hogwarts Legacy allow for fans to interact with new characters. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios theme park shows new adventures with pre-existing characters.
We don’t need a remake of something that was crafted so wonderfully to begin with. Content just for the sake of content is never a good idea.
“Despite some concerns that the show may be a flop, I am looking forward to its release as it has been a long time since anything related to Harry Potter has been released,” says Goddard. “Many shows created by HBO such as ‘Chernobyl’ and ‘The Last of Us’ have ended up being big successes and I hope that this will end up being another.”
The first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (or “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” depending on where you live) was originally published on June 26, 1997, and was adapted into the first Harry Potter movie in 2001. Movies followed the publication of each consecutive book. The eight films are greatly revered by fans across the globe, and hold a special place in many people’s hearts. While the first movie was made over 20 years ago, the last was released only a little over 10. There should be more than 10 years time between the ending of a film series and a reboot.
“I’m iffy about reboots in general,” says an anonymous PEACE freshman. “Sometimes they’re not as good [as the original] or they totally butcher it.”
“I don’t think it’s necessary to do a reboot. Again, the movies are very iconic and well-known, not to mention they were made so recently,” says the anonymous QUEST senior. “It feels like companies are trying to take advantage of their customers.”
Also, wouldn’t it be weird to see anyone other than Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint play this magical trio? Whenever I think of the Wizarding World, my brain conjures up images of their faces. Having anyone else play these iconic characters would permanently set how they played their roles as a thing of the past. I do not think fans are ready to see this magical trio gone for good.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is a popular saying for a reason.
Faith Mack • Apr 11, 2024 at 1:43 pm
On April 8, 2024, Audrey Lozano wrote an article titled “Harry Potter Reboot: Is it Necessary?”. In a well written article the author details that there will be an upcoming Harry Potter reboot in the form of a tv show that HBO will be releasing in 2026. Each season will encompass the plot of one book. However, there are questions as to whether it is too soon to be releasing a reboot. People still have emotional attachments to the film actors portraying the iconic characters from the books and it might be difficult to even picture another face in the role.
Personally, after reading all of the books, I didn’t want to watch all of the respective movies. However, it will be hard to see anyone else play these characters. These movies were many people’s childhoods and even escapes from reality. The movies are irreplaceable and it feels as if they were released just yesterday. It is definitely too soon to have anyone else in those roles or even see the plots portrayed on screen again. It honestly feels like a money grab to do a reboot on top of the games, the merch, and all of the other movies.
Mazen Mendoza • Apr 11, 2024 at 1:43 pm
On April 8, 2024, Audrey Lozano wrote the article posing the question “Hayy Potter Reboot: Is it Necessary?” This is a good question; the Harry Potter series, while not one of my personal favorites, is undoubtedly one of the most influential sagas ever produced. The world over the magical works of J.K. Rowling has shaped the lives of uncountable people, through the original books or the massively popular movies. This is where the issue arises; the movie series has been over for years at this point, and Max has no announced a show remake will be coming out some time 2026. Audrey makes a good point: does the series really need a remake? Would it not be better to just leave it as is, and enjoy the saga in its completed entirety? I feel that the author makes good connections throughout the article such as mentioning how newer generations that weren’t able to experience the Harry Potter universe coming together during their childhood will have their first real taste of the story. The end of the article makes many good points, ending off with the satisfying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Julianne Bermudez • Apr 11, 2024 at 11:49 am
This article is an excellent written report about the possible reboot of what is considered to be one of the most significant film series by many. The writer does an amazing job at introducing the article with a very interesting hook, eventually leading into the big question as to whether or not this is what the franchise needs. To add on, the writer delves into detail about what this reboot would consist of. She explains that this possible reboot will likely produce a thorough storyline, along with more screen time for adored characters such as Neville Longbottom, who was not seen as frequently throughout the series. As a person who enjoys rewatching these movies and is a fan of the franchise, I agree with the writer’s opinion on feeling not too sure about this new reboot. By launching this reboot, there is a chance that it might not be as iconic as the original film series. In addition, the writer manages to interview various students and provide statements throughout the article. I found reading the many opinions about the reboot very enjoyable. I also truly appreciate how the writer provides a link to various phrases. This provides assistance in understanding the definition of those phrases that might be unfamiliar to certain individuals. Overall, I found this article to be very informative and interesting. I look forward to reading more relatable content!
Simone Jackson • Apr 11, 2024 at 9:40 am
This was a very well-written article that I thoroughly enjoyed regarding the topic of a possibility of a reboot for the beloved childhood film series of Harry Potter. It is first acknowledged how immensely popular the Harry Potter series is and how after the first movies, many fans still would like more content out of the franchise. It is stated that Max, formerly known as HBO Max, had posted on X that a Harry Potter TV show was in the works for 2026. The author, as a Potterhead herself, then goes on to question the need for a TV show of the franchise. The author also includes a quote from a student about how they share the concern that many fans have of the TV reboot not living up to the expectations of die-hard Potterheads. The article then goes into brief descriptions of what the TV show is set to include, with details provided by Screen Rant. The article explains how there is a plan to give more air time to beloved characters such as Neville Longbottom, who were not adequately involved in the original movies. The article also goes on to note how the Harry Potter franchise has found numerous other ways to bring more content and activities for its fans such as the Fantastic Beast series, video games, and a theme park. The article also addresses the other opinions of students who are excited for the show, as they simply want more Harry Potter content to watch. The article concludes with a statement of the author’s opinion about how strange it would be to have other actors play these iconic characters and that the movies should just be left alone in their legacy. This article was very interesting and informative to me, as a huge Potterhead and lover of both the movies and books. Like a few of the students quoted, I am definitely anticipating the reboot, as I think there are characters and storylines from the books that I hope get more attention. Although I do think that the main three characters should not be tampered with, I would like more content to watch and characters to learn about.
Jonathan Kelly • Apr 11, 2024 at 9:38 am
When I first saw this article I was surprised, as it’s not often that something like this is turned into an article however, I am very welcome to it. To start off I’d like to give a little bit of critique. While much of the article is written fairly unbiasedly (if that even is a word) there are certain lines that feel like they lean a bit to a side. For example, the statement “There should be more than 10 years time between the ending of a film series and a reboot” may not be what everyone believes. While I do believe that the statement is correct, there may be several others who may think differently.
However, I still greatly enjoyed this article. It’s not often that you see articles relating to books anymore, and I think the article raises some really good questions regarding the validity of a reboot. Like how it may be nearly impossible to imagine anyone filling the role of the main three characters other than the original actors. I also am not feeling too well with how the show may go, as much of the recent Harry Potter media has been rather lackluster so to say (the widely agreed upon bad movies of Fantastic beasts 1 & 2) and with much of what J.K. Rowling has been saying on websites such as X give me concern for how the show may turn out. Also, while Max does have some good adaptations of series I like such as the Last of Us, there have also been some failures of adaptations such as the Halo tv series which completely butchers the source material. Hopefully, Max can pull through with this one.
destiny deleon-vaivao • Apr 10, 2024 at 1:19 pm
Dear Corydon editor,
On April 8, 2024, Audrey Lozano wrote an article titled “Harry Potter Reboot: Is it Necessary?”. Lozano starts her article with an interesting hook. She begins to explain the background of the Harry Potter franchise so that readers who might be unfamiliar with it are informed. She then explains that there has been evidence that producers are planning on expanding the franchise by adding a TV show. Lozano does an excellent job bringing in evidence and explaining it. She then brings in multiple different perspectives on the upcoming of the TV show and their opinions on the franchise in general. I appreciate how she included a variety of opinions in interviews from people stating that the show will not live up to expectations to opinions that state that this will be an excellent addition. Lozano did a great job in this article by explaining background information for the Harry Potter movies and including evidence of an upcoming sequel. She effectively includes interviews and statements from students on campus and establishes her opinion well.
Lucy Green • Apr 10, 2024 at 11:24 am
This article did an excellent job of informing the readers about the upcoming Harry Potter reboot, and presenting a defensible position on the topic. I really appreciated the inclusion of links to definitions of uncommon words, such as “Potterhead.” This addition added clarity to the article and is helpful for people who may be unfamiliar with the Harry Potter universe.
In addition, the inclusion of interviews with Millikan Students intertwined with information about the previous screen adaptations of the Harry Potter series made this article very engaging and informative. Because the author’s opinion on the reboot was presented very well, I would love to see more information about the reboot such as who is directing it, potential cast members, and the origin of the idea.
Overall, I really enjoyed this article and found it incredibly informative. As someone who is a big fan of the Harry Potter series, I deeply resonate with the author’s opinion that a reboot is not necessary. With a combination of quotes from students, factual information about the reboot, and the author’s own opinion, this article was excellent and convincing.
Suzanna • Apr 10, 2024 at 9:20 am
As a fan of Harry Potter myself I also questioned the reboot, the original movies were great, so why try and milk it for more than it has? A reboot of Harry Potter will not turn out how the creators imagine it will. Fans will either love it because that means more Harry Potter live-action, or they’ll hate it because they think a reboot is unnecessary and will only lead to bad things. So this article included these concerns and gave an honest opinion from the public.
I believe that the creators of this reboot might be able to pull it off and make a good impact on the Harry Potter franchise. But there is still the chance that it’ll end up failing majorly. So I’m delighted I got to read this article since it helped me learn a little more about other people’s perspectives and what they think. Also, it’s enjoyable to read Potterhead’s opinion on this issue, it opens people’s eyes to what the fans believe.