The new HBO Harry Potter series is clouded in controversy. With the Wizarding World‘s creator, J. K. Rowling, confirmed to be heavily involved in the series, even admitting she has “read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series, and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD,” a divide within the fandom has grown even wider, as many wish their favorite fantasy tale could separate itself from the controversial woman behind it.
Of course, this will never be the case, with those who are choosing to look forward to the HBO series, one that the production company is hanging its financially struck hat on, anticipating a more thorough exploration of the source material. When making eight movies, the depth of world-building in the seven novels would always be scavenged through for the “most important” moments. With the series promising to dutifully capture the original books, that will not be the case. So, with all that in mind, here’s a look at the questions the Harry Potter TV series can finally answer that the movies did not.
10
What Does St. Mungo’s Hospital Look Like?
We’ve seen Madam Pomfrey and the Hospital Wing enough.
One of the best aspects of the Harry Potter novels is the world-building through location. From Hogwarts itself to the setting for the Quidditch World Cup — more on that later — the movies simply didn’t have enough time to visit every magical location in the Wizarding World. However, the series certainly will, with the upcoming adaptation ready to hopefully bring the fan-favorite St. Mungo’s Hospital to life.
From a wizarding bank to entire villages, Harry Potter fans have already seen what many relatable locations look like with a magical twist. Although a visit to the hospital wing in Hogwarts has been depicted on-screen, this simply won’t compare to the potential for visual exploration inside the walls of St. Mungo’s. Whether it’s a levitating potion or a goblin nurse, anything could be behind the doors of St. Mungo’s, including the Weasley’s visit to see a stricken Arthur in the fifth book.
9
What Will the Source Material’s Real Opening Look Like?
Could we see the Dursley family before Harry?
The Harry Potter films, in particular the first installment, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, make the understandable decision to begin with Harry’s placement on the doorstep of number 4, Privet Drive, in the aftermath of his parents’ death. However, in the books, Rowling chooses to introduce the reader to this story through the lens of a Muggle family: The Dursleys.
Vernon’s unassuming work day meets the first whispers of magic, leaving him both confused and fearful in a wonderful act of surrogacy for the reader. In the upcoming series, the Dursleys’ life before Harry’s introduction can be offered its due diligence, as fans finally get to see the Grunnings drill corporation and more come to life whilst the whispers of The Boy Who Lived’s miracle survival begin.
We want more Dobby beyond ‘Chamber of Secrets’!
Hermione is a character given plenty of time to shine in the movies. However, some of her most poignant character beats are left by the wayside in the films, perhaps none more so than her formation of The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, otherwise known as S.P.E.W. “I was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status — but it wouldn’t fit. So that’s the heading of our manifesto,” Hermione says in the fourth novel.
Many of the aspects of Harry Potter are used as magical allegories for injustices from within our own world. The formation of S.P.E.W. is representative of both young activism and anti-slavery protestations, with the elves in the Wizarding World, especially at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, treated abhorrently. Sadly, Rowling’s attitude to the plotline in the novels is to reduce Hermione to a laughingstock, with her brave and bold stand against injustice portrayed as misguided and condescending. Let’s hope that, through a modern lens, the series realigns this theme.
7
Just How Impressive Can the Quidditch World Cup Look?
After all, this is the biggest sporting event in the Wizarding World.
Sure, in the fourth movie, some on-screen time and plenty of behind-the-scenes effort were put into capturing the feel of the Wizarding World’s biggest sporting event: The Quidditch World Cup. However, due to the major plot-shifting events that happen post-final, the film had to skip through much of the World Cup in favor of keeping pace with the story.
…The film had to skip through much of the World Cup in favor of keeping pace with the story.
Because the upcoming series will be dedicating one season to each book, it’s fair to assume that at least an entire episode will be set inside the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. One of the franchise-favorite locations throughout all seven stories, the Quidditch World Cup has perhaps the most potential of any setting to truly wow audiences, whether it is in the stands during a match or, indeed, the bloody aftermath.
6
Will Harry and Dudley Get Their True Ending?
Movie audiences were denied resolution between these cousins.
In one of the most infamous decisions by the Harry Potter movies, Dudley and Harry’s final encounter before they eventually part ways for good in the seventh novel is tragically reduced to the deleted scenes pile. This was and still is an outrageous decision that removes one of the most poignant character beats in the entire story, despite it being a short, easily included moment.
The upcoming series is unlikely to make the same mistake, although fans will have to wait many years before the moment finally reaches screens. After years of torment and abuse at the hands of his cousin, Dudley finally gains respect for Harry as the bells of battle begin to chime. After shaking Harry’s hand, Dudley says he doesn’t think his cousin is “a waste of space,” and Harry responds with “thanks, Big D.” It’s touching, and more than worthy of realization in the final product.
5
Will Fans Finally Get to See Peeves Brought to Life?
Peeves can bring some much-needed chaos.
The final goodbye between Harry and Dudley wasn’t the only egregious deleted scene choice from the Harry Potter movies. In the first novel, one of the more stand-out characters is Peeves the Poltergeist, a prank-pulling ghost who doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the spirits roaming Hogwarts’ halls. After hiring the late, great British comedian Rik Mayall to take on the role, even going as far to film his scenes, he was entirely cut from the final product.
…A prank-pulling ghost who doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the spirits roaming Hogwarts’ halls.
Not only did this halt fans from seeing one of the greatest and most innovative comedic minds from joining Harry Potter‘s stacked ensemble, but it stopped the character from being embodied on-screen entirely, much to the fury of many. Now, in the upcoming series, the chance to see another beloved modern comedian take on the role could rectify this issue.
4
Will the Battle of Hogwarts Be Given the Chance to Breathe?
Too many lost lives that deserve our reverence.
In the original novels, the Battle of Hogwarts is the payoff seven books had all been building towards. With almost every important character arriving to fight on the side of good or evil, many figureheads of the series perish, with the entire contest taking up a pivotal chunk of the 759-page seventh book.
In the final film, many of the aforementioned perished characters are sidelined simply due to a lack of time. This is a frank disrespect of these characters, with some only awarded a mere frame of recognition before the story swiftly moves forward. In the series, much more time is likely to be dedicated to this, with every character hopefully given the emotionally-charged send-off they deserve — Lavender Brown, you deserved so much more.
3
What Happened When the Minister for Magic Met the Prime Minister?
The political powers of the Muggle world know more than we know.
In the second half of the Harry Potter series, politics takes center stage. As Harry and a minority of others fight to prove Voldemort has returned, the Ministry of Magic refuses their suggestion and gaslights its population through the media and even alters the education system to fit their agenda in a statement more relevant today than ever.
One of the most powerful moments in the books to truly help cement this sentiment is when the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, meets with the British Prime Minister in light of the destruction caused by Death Eaters to London and beyond in The Half Blood Prince. This meeting of human and wizarding politics could be one of the most important thematic moments in the entire upcoming adaptation, should they choose to tackle it.
2
What is Exam Season Like for Wizards?
After all, Hogwarts is a school.
Beyond the fantasy, action, and drama, Harry Potter is, at its heart, a coming-of-age tale set at school. Much like every good coming-of-age academic story, the weight of pressure surrounding exams is explored thoroughly throughout the books. In fact, the concept of studying and the academic structure in the Wizarding World is given plenty of thought, though, sadly, it was rarely translated into the movies.
Much like every good coming-of-age academic story, the weight of pressure surrounding exams is explored thoroughly throughout the books.
Despite an exam in the Great Hall and Fred and George’s firework disruption marking the turning point in the fifth movie’s third act, this is arguably the most viewers see of exam season at Hogwarts. The Ordinary Wizarding Levels, better known as O.W.L. qualifications, are a point of great anxiety for the students of Hogwarts. The chance to see Harry, Ron, Hermione, and co experiencing an entirely relatable academic journey will provide an important juxtaposition to the frankly absurd level of danger they are often thrust into.
1
Who Are The Marauders?
There’s so much to explore with Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.
Fans of the Harry Potter movies will be more than accustomed to The Marauders’ Map, an integral piece of kit that allows Harry to see the whereabouts of everyone at Hogwarts. However, the third film, in which Harry acquires the map from Fred and George, does little to explore the backstory of its creators, unlike the novels.
Made by Lupin, Pettigrew, Sirius, and James (known as Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs), these four best friends are awarded a thorough exploration of their friendship dynamic, offering both a greater understanding of the franchise lore and a better look at Harry’s father, who is so integral to the titular character. Not only is the detailing of the Marauders an opportunity worth taking for the creatives behind the upcoming adaptation, it is one that simply must be taken for the sake of the series’ success, and still stands as one of the most glaring omissions from the movies.