J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter TV series is a HUGE mistake and a shameless cash grab that fans will see straight through

NEVER have I seen more of a desperate attempt to exploit a franchise than the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

There cannot be any doubt about the popularity of J.K. Rowling’s books, films, theatre productions and more recently, even video games.

But I fear the upcoming streaming series risks boring original fans by bringing nothing new and exciting to the table.

Disney has faced backlash for dusting off some of its original films with a new generation of live action remakes, but I only see the rebooted Potter series as totally unimaginative.

Lest we forget, when the first movie was released it was nothing short of a sensation, grossing over one billion dollars at the box office against a budget of just 125 million. 

Seven movies later, the total takings have reached over seven billion dollars, we have global theme parks based on the franchise and every year fans across the world dress up as their favourite characters. 

Fans have to book months in advance just to get a peek at their favourite sets, or the chance to purchase a chocolate frog, or look at a real copy of The Quibbler in person.

J.K. Rowling went from being homeless to having a reported net worth of £820 million. 

She forged the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, whilst legendary names such as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Emma Thompson, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton and Julie Walters lined up to join the cast.

Of course we will also remember career-defining performances by Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane and Helen McRory.

I remember well the excitement of being taken to see the third film on a school trip in 2004 and being in awe of Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Sirius Black.

I recall arguing over which Hogwarts house our different classmates belonged in on the way back to school.  

I am not scared to admit that I have dressed up as Voldemort on multiple occasions for Halloween and I am proud to be in possession of a replica of the wand used by Helena Bonham Carter as she played Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Beloved does not begin to do justice to the impact the films have had on my life, and those of others. 

I’d go so far as to say the eight original films practically defined the childhoods of kids not just across the UK, but around the world. 

They provided a whimsical escape during a time typically defined by the anguish of exams and raging hormones.

Now we all know the Wizarding World has potential for new stories, as proved by the Fantastic Beasts franchise. 

Certainly the films aren’t a successor to Harry Potter, but they were never meant to be.

Instead, they’re aimed at fans of  the Wizarding World as a welcome back into the universe while telling new tales. 

The three films, which will culminate in the duel of Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) and Dumbledore (Jude Law), have so far taken over $1.865 billion at the box office. 

Potter fans would know the background around these characters well. Yes, there is demand to see more of the famous Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry – and there’s plenty of spin-off potential.

With that in mind, I can’t get my head around rehashing the same story of Harry Potter all over again.

Fans would love to see the founders of the famous school and how the famous castle came to be. 

There is also potential to tell the story of James and Lily Potter at school, the idea behind the Marauders Map or even to document the rise of Voldemort and the First Wizarding War.  

Even J.K. Rowling practically handed a sequel to Warner Bros on a silver platter with two plays – The Cursed Child – taking the West End by storm

Yet, instead of taking a risk and telling new stories, HBO would rather just milk the storylines already etched into our head.

It’s clear that studio heads simply hoped to take the formula which worked so well in the noughties and spin it into gold for subscription-based streamers.

Indeed, why not have something to draw audiences in as subscribers across streaming platforms are decreasing across the industry?

What is something that people hold so dear to their hearts that they are guaranteed to tune into, no matter what production there is and what they do with it? Harry Potter of course.

I admit that as a Potter obsessive I will be tuning in, purely out of intrigue if nothing else. 

Unfortunately, given the franchise’s insurmountable legacy, I believe the only way is down from here. 

Telly bosses might be laughing all the way to the bank, but they risk damaging the Wizarding World’s reputation and turning off a whole new generation of potential fans.

There will be constant comparisons to the original movies – which let’s face it, leave impossible shoes to fill.

I just hope that the new series don’t take away from the magic of the original films, otherwise the studio execs will be casting another spell over us – expell-iarmus!