The Harry Potter Franchise Isn't Spitting On Our Hopes After All

Harry Potter fans have been begging for a certain handful of things for several years. The movies were, of course, a satisfactory answer to our requests for screen adaptations of JK Rowling's hit books, but that wasn't where our dreams ended. There have always been clear areas in which this story could be expanded. It seemed only a matter of time before prequel books, movies, or TV shows hit the scene, and we weren't technically wrong. The only problem was that the first one we got ( Fantastic Beasts ) wasn't quite what we asked for. The Fantastic Beasts movies crashed and burned, and fans went right back to asking for the sorts of spinoffs we actually wanted. There would have been significant value to a Marauders prequel, or a House of Black TV show. A story about a younger Dumbledore would have been great too, though something with a different approach than Fantastic Beasts . Hogwarts founders, Lily and Snape, Professor McGonagall—any of these would have been great at the center of their own adaptation. Instead, WBD responded with a TV remake. The loudest question ever since HBO announced its Harry Potter TV remake has been, " why ?" There were so many other things we wanted—why double down on what has already been explored on screen? These disappointed frustrations have been repeated for a few years now, but HBO has subtly announced that it heard us after all. We may not have asked for a Harry Potter TV show, but this project is the perfect way to deliver on what we actually dreamed of. HBO's Harry Potter Is Killing Two Birds With One Stone Credit: HBO via MovieStillsDB The trailers for HBO's Harry Potter have made one intriguing fact exceptionally clear. While this project is meant to be a book-faithful adaptation of Rowling's seven books, the series will also explore additional stories set within this world. Perhaps the most notable example came with Harry Potter 's most recent trailer, which showed a young man and woman running across a bridge as they set it aglow with stars from their wands. It's a safe assumption that this is a flashback scene, likely depicting James and Lily Potter. One of the most heavily requested Harry Potter spinoffs would dive deeper into the generation that came before Harry and his friends. James, Lily, Remus, Sirius, Pettigrew, Snape, Regulus, and beyond are all valuable pieces of the puzzle, but we only ever see as much as Harry is allowed to know about their stories. The information comes second hand, but there has always been potential for a more intimate exploration. When HBO announced its Harry Potter TV show, it seemed the company was ignoring our requests. Now, it seems that the remake is instead being used to deliver exactly what we asked for. This approach makes sense, really, since the Harry Potter movies left out so much nuanced information that viewers would need to understand a prequel about any of these characters. Part of why Fantastic Beasts didn't stick is because the movies failed to establish enough interest in Dumbledore and Grindelwald's story. This route will paint a much more complete picture. ​​​​​​​ Upcoming Seasons Have Fantastic Opportunities For Valuable Flashbacks John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore in season 1 of Harry Potter Just from trailers and behind-the-scenes images, we know that Harry Potter season 1 will show us flashbacks of Lily and James, as well as private conversations between Dumbledore and figures like Nicolas Flamel or Minerva McGonagall. It's a great start, and all of these moments make perfect sense for Philosopher's Stone . It will be excellent to see more of what James and Lily's relationship was like, as well as what sorts of maneuvers Dumbledore was making behind the scenes during Harry's first year at school. Still, the real value will come later. Each season of Harry Potter will have unique opportunities to dive into different elements of the story. Season 2 can give us more of Hagrid and Tom Riddle at school. Season 3 can really dive into the nitty-gritty of the Marauders and their mischief as animagi and map makers. Season 4 can flash back to Barty Crouch Jr.'s escape from Azkaban and his imprisonment at his father's house. Season 5's flashbacks can revolve around the House of Black and Sirius' upbringing. Then there are seasons 6 and 7, which should bring all the most valuable flashbacks of the series. Voldemort, Dumbledore, Grindelwald, the Peverells, the Hogwarts Founders—these characters' broader stories are pivotal to Harry's ultimate conclusion. HBO's Harry Potter TV show can spend much of its last two seasons fully piecing these elements together. We can see the truth about the Peverells and their work on the Deathly Hallows. Voldemort's full backstory and family history can finally come to the screen. Dumbledore and Grindelwald's friendship can be explored in full. Overall, there's just a whole lot to look forward to here. Harry Potter will be so much more than just a remake.