Will there be a Harry Potter TV show?
It’s certainly a question many fans have asked over the years — even with the eight-part film series being as successful as it was. But apparently, Warner Bros. is asking similar questions. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, a “live-action” Harry Potter TV series is in early development at HBO Max.
Whether or not the show would adapt the seven-book series or create another Wizarding World spin-off is unclear. Warner Bros. themselves may not know. Development is in the “early-stage exploratory” phase, according to the report. That means there are no writers or producers attached to the idea right now — there are only early talks.
In fact, HBO Max and Warner Bros. told The Hollywood Reporter that “There are no Harry Potter series in development at the studio or on the streaming platform.”
But a Harry Potter TV show is probably not a good idea considering … you-know-who.
A Harry Potter television series would almost certainly be successful, but the news adds fire to the ongoing conversations around J.K. Rowling’s controversial and harmful views on gender identity.
Shortly after Rowling’s comments last summer, Warner Bros. issued a statement of inclusivity, saying that its position on inclusiveness is, “well established, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world.”
That said, the studio continues to expand Rowling’s property. An open-world Harry Potter video game is in the works, and the Fantastic Beasts franchise remains a pillar of their upcoming film slate. Development on a Harry Potter TV show suggests that Warner Bros. will continue to stand by Rowling, despite the controversy.
Many are already speaking out against the idea, pointing out that such a series would earn Rowling more money and continue to give her a platform to spread hateful rhetoric.
Editor’s Note: Rowling’s views on gender identity, which she has consistently promoted on social media and elsewhere, have been cited as harmful by the transgender community. We feel it’s important for our readers to be aware of this. To learn more about the transgender community, its relationship with Harry Potter and how to be an ally, we recommend studying the resources found at the bottom of our article, ‘The Harry Potter fandom: What’s next for trans fans and allies?.’ For more information on how Bookstacked covers problematic individuals in the publishing and film industry, please click here.
Hmm. Not sure if I’d watch a Harry Potter TV show or not. The movies are good enough!