Hey, WarnerMedia. You like, money, right? I mean, that’s why you bought film rights for Harry Potter. And it’s also why you pushed forward with the brand with the Fantastic Beasts movies. I get it. It’s the American dream. To exploit I.P.s to the Nth degree and roll around in the financial gains, Scrooge McDuck style. With that in mind, I have a little proposition for you. A little something that I know you’ve been thinking about, because we all have.

I’m talking about a Harry Potter television series. Actually, scratch that last part. I’m talking about a Harry Potter streaming series. More specifically, for HBO Max, since Warner Bros. owns the rights and all (that being said, I’m not sure if those rights extend to TV, but let’s assume they do). Ideally, you’d got the animated route for something like this since we’ve already seen this world realized in live-action, but I get that you want to make money, so I’m willing to settle for live-action.

I’ll admit, this isn’t a new topic. I’ve written about this before. (you can see that original piece HERE), But the timing really hasn’t been more perfect for a new Harry Potter series than it is now. So, take a seat, pull up a mug of butterbeer, and lend me your ears. It’ll only take five minutes for me to tell you now is the best time to pursue this idea.

The Golden Age of Fantasy Is Upon Us

You only need to look up a list of upcoming fantasy shows to know that there are a lot of magical shows coming down the line. Carnival Row, His Dark Materials, and The Witcher have already had their first seasons hit, and there are much more on the way. We have Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, and countless other big-budget fantasy projects on the way. Harry Potter would be another perfect candidate to be thrown in.

Plus, with the current divisive age we live in, I feel like it would have the potential to resonate even more than it already has.

The Streaming Landscape Is Primed

Let’s be real. Ten years ago, many of us wouldn’t have dreamed of seeing big-budget fantasies on the small screen. It’s the reason why so many were relegated to the big screen — often to middling success, at best. Of course, we had the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, but it could be argued that some of those, based on the nature of the stories, would be better suited for streaming or TV.

Nowadays, however, near-film-quality visuals and effects are expected on streaming. As such, all those magical scenes could actually be realized on the small screen. Sure, it may not look as good as their big screen counterparts, but it’s close enough. And with the focus being shifted from a brisk plot to more character and plot development, it’s a medium that is arguably better for the Harry Potter property.

Fantastic Beasts Ain’t Doing Too Hot

Let’s face it. Those Fantastic Beasts movies aren’t doing well enough. While fans seemed to like the first movie okay, the second one seemed to diminish all good faith J.K. Rowling had built up. Between the rocky storytelling of the movies (they feature a static protagonist and an unclear set of goals and plot), the brand could use a win.

Enter Harry Potter. It’s a story everyone already knows they love. All you need to do is make sure you don’t screw it up along the way, which I feel like would be easier in streaming form than in film form, since you’re adding, not condensing.

Fans Hate New Canon, So Just Give Them Re-Heated Old Canon Instead

Let’s face it. Fans are kinda bitchy. All kinds of fans. Star Wars fans. DC fans. Marvel fans. And Harry Potter fans are no exception. They’ve taken particular umbrage with author J.K. Rowling expanding the mythology via Pottermore and Fantastic Beasts, giving her virtually no room to expand her own mythology without getting yelled at for it.

So don’t do it. Don’t expand the mythology. Just re-heat the old stuff and repackage it as new. I’ll like it. Fans’ll like it. And I’m sure it’ll somehow even reach a new audience, who somehow missed the movies.

But, those are just the thoughts of a lone, rogue writer. What do you think? Do you agree that the time is perfect for a Harry Potter series? Let us know down below!

Don’t forget to share this post on your Facebook wall and with your Twitter followers! Just hit the buttons on the top of this page.

—–

Have you checked out LRM Online’s official podcast feed yet The LRM Online Podcast Network, which includes our flagship podcast Los Fanboys, our premiere podcast Breaking Geek Radio: The Podcast, and our morning show LRMornings? Check it out by listening below. It’s also available on all your favorite podcast apps!

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts |  Spotify  |  SoundCloud | Stitcher | Google Play