The boss of Warner Bros., Channing Dungey, shed some light on the intentions of the upcoming Harry Potter series from HBO. Based on the best-selling books, the first film adaptation was released in 2001 and led to seven more movies, which did well critically and commercially. Each movie earned Rotten Tomatoes’ “Certified Fresh” rating and made a whopping $9.5 billion at the global box office. Since the Harry Potter The show was first announced in April 2023, there was concern that the new series could diminish the healthy reputation of the movies.
Talk to VarietyWarner Bros. TV Group’s chairman and CEO made the intentions of the new HBO show clear. First, he said that progress was moving along, with the writing staff in place, “do what they need to do,“And casting calls open in the UK and Ireland. He then added that working with the Harry Potter Universe was an unbelievable dream, since he is a fan of the books, and that the “The whole reason we’re on this journey” Is the opportunity to explore the books a little more in-depth than the two-hour movies. Read his full comment below:
Dungey added that working with the “Harry Potter” universe was an “incredible dream, honestly, and as someone who is a huge fan of the books, the opportunity to get to explore them in a little more depth that you can In just a two-hour film… that’s the whole reason we’re on this journey.
What this means for HBO’s Harry Potter series
These comments should serve as a reassurance to those still skeptical about these Harry Potter series from HBO. Although the show will most likely step on the toes of the legacy of the films, the creative team has admirable intentions. Rather than just rehashing the story told by the movies and milking their success, It seems like the team behind the HBO series wants to dive deeper into the expansive study of the books, ultimately leading to a TV series that is more faithful to the books.
This would likely mean including more complete storylines, as many subplots were partially or completely eradicated in these Harry Potter Movies. Characters that don’t appear in the movies, like the mischievous poltergeist, Peeves, for example, may appear in the show, while other supporting characters may be fleshed out more. Even the main trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron will get more screen time in a TV show, and therefore will likely have characterization that is more in line with the books.
I’ve said before that I have mixed feelings about HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter Series. The comments, however, have helped alleviate my concerns. The casting choices for the movies are impeccable, finding talented actors who are just as interesting as the iconic characters they portray. The whimsical essence of the books has also been adapted well and the plots have been streamlined to fit the new medium better. However, as I read through the books, I noticed that, as movie adaptations usually go, Some storylines and characters that I would like to see in the films are left out.
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Admittedly, most of the changes were made for the better. for example, The books had a knack for slowing down the pace of their third acts, which were usually filled with draggy dialogue. The prolonged explanation of Peter Pettigrew’s betrayal of Lily and James Potter in the Shrieking Shack, or the almost-unsufferable explanation of Voldemort’s resurrection in the graveyard, come to mind.
With the additional runtime given to a television series, HBO Harry Potter Remake has the opportunity to include things fans of the books missed in the movies.
Some changes, however, are less beneficial. Use these Fourth Harry Potter Book as an example, some key things are left out. Sirius Black’s involvement in the book’s plot added much more development to his characterWhich made the impact of his death in the fifth book More hard-hitting. Another thing that was left out of the movie was Hermione’s creation of SPEW (the Society for the Promotion of Elven Welfare), which called for the better treatment of house-elves. With the additional runtime given to a television series, HBO Harry Potter Remake has the opportunity to include things fans of the books missed in the movies.
Source: Variety