There is little doubt that Harry Potter has been, and remains, one of the most successful series of books and films, not to mention recognisable franchises, of modern times. Its themed merchandise is immensely popular in many retail stores. There are multiple theme parks and experiences across the UK and the USA, as well as 4 hour long play, giving an epilogue to the story.
For most fans the iconic portrayals of the characters in the original 8 films, or perhaps the amazing visuals the films had to offer, form a big part of their love of these stories. The ever-improving CGI industry couldn’t have come at a better time. It afforded the movies stunning magical elements and creatures that brought the beloved fantasy to life, using technology far superior to that which had been used in film before.
Having watched all 8 films over the last few weeks, I could really see the care with which J K Rowling’s books were brought to life; a care that isn’t always seen in Hollywood today.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I heard the rumour that there is very high chance that the films are going to be remade.
Many reboots of classic films have been released recently, mostly at the hands of Disney. For many years they’ve been releasing ‘live action remakes’ with varying levels of success.
From famous films like “Cinderella” and “Aladdin”, to perhaps lesser known works like “Lady and the Tramp”, these films offer only surface level changes, with no truly unique perspectives that would warrant a completely new film (with the exception being ‘Maleficent’). Consequently, the majority of these new films fade into obscurity almost immediately after release. Many of you may have had no idea that the ‘Lady and the Tramp’ remake existed before now. With little creative liberties and cultural impact, it can be hard to see the point of many of these remakes at all.
The idea of a reboot for the Harry Potter franchise has left a lot of fans both excited and confused- after all, the last movie was released only 12 years ago. It isn’t as if they haven’t aged well, and I found a lot of the technical effects to be on par with the films of today. I am not alone in feeling that a Harry Potter reboot is unnecessary.
Firstly, the intentions of the studio are very clear—its nostalgia bait. They want the devoted fanbase to remember their fond memories of going to the cinema every year to watch the latest film. Perhaps with the idea that they will take their kids to have the same experience they enjoyed. However, has there really been a long enough gap since the saga ended on screen for this tactic to work? A lot of the fans haven’t yet had children. Even if they have, surely many would decide to show them the original films instead, as this is how their memories were made. This seems to be the case with the ever popular Star Wars movies, where the three original Lucas films are beloved my multiple generations of fans.
The current controversies involving the author J.K Rowling are also hard for some fans to ignore. Comments by the author have been perceived as transphobic and have undoubtedly put many off supporting the Harry Potter franchise. They know that she will profit from these films and therefore may be unwilling to watch the remakes. Based on her recent actions, Rowling’s reputation seems likely to worsen over time, in complete contrast to her status as a much loved author when the original films were released. This association could tarnish the new films before they are even released. Her comments have only accelerated the rate at which the magic has worn off this over merchandised series.
The recent failure of Harry Potter spinoff films, such as Fantastic Beasts, seems to reflect this change, as they seem to have only soured the public opinion of the franchise. The reception and popularity of the series has been steadily declining, going from £660 mil profits, to £530 mil, to just £320 million from the third film. It seems as if this series will never be wrapped up at all, as there are currently no production plans despite the last one having been released almost a year ago.
The poor critical reception of these films was partially due to JK’s insistence on writing the entire screenplay for the first two films with no help, despite having no expertise in this area, leading to an incoherent story.
This recent development of poor film quality being associated with the franchise will cause hesitancy among audience, as they wonder if these films will have the same poor execution, especially if JK is involved with production once again.
Unfortunately, despite these reasons and many more why these films seem like a bad idea, there is no denying the appeal from a studio’s standpoint. No matter how clear it’s cash-grabbing intentions are, many people won’t be able to resist going to relive their youths and continue to be a part of this massive fanbase. It’s a shame that studios have decided to put their money towards these rehashes, instead of investing in something new and innovative.
The next time you go to the cinema, I urge you to take a look at some of the fresh and exciting new films that truly aren’t getting the credit they deserve, instead of continuing to invest in oversaturated franchises. There are always new pieces of fiction waiting for you to get excited about, instead of clinging to the old stuff. My personal recomendation would be “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, an incredible indie film that just won 7 Oscars. Films like this are the future of cinema, not the tired rehashes that dominate the cinema today.
By Suzanna Simmonite