I Wasn’t Looking For A Harry Potter Reboot, But The New Trailer Has Me Under Its Spell
As an avid, perhaps fanatical, Harry Potter fan, I can’t say I was thrilled when I heard that HBO was rebooting the beloved film franchise as a TV show.
Like millions of other Harry Potter enthusiasts, the books and movies have been a central part of both my youth and my adulthood, providing a magical refuge from the not-so-bright Muggle world. Theme parks, Broadway shows, malls and audiobooks have kept the spellbinding story alive not only for my generation, but for younger Potterheads as well.
But I never thought we would get the on-screen narration just a decade and a half after the films were finished. What was the point of the remake with new actors, beyond the obvious monetary gain?
Hollywood is stuck in the process of recycling successful TV shows and movies to make easy money. I thought Harry Potter was safe from that situation, at least for a while, given the continuing relevance of the films. Over the years, I have attended many screenings of Harry Potter with audiences of all ages, highlighting its broad cultural appeal across generations. Of course, there was still room for future generations to participate in something that brought us so much joy.
Despite the controversy surrounding author JK Rowling’s views on transgender issues, which contradict the series’ themes of love, integration and justice, Harry Potter remains a meaningful part of many fans’ lives. Its stories, characters and themes continue to resonate, encouraging a sense of connection and belonging in those who have adopted the wizarding world as their own.
Now, the magic of the original films will be replaced by a shiny new TV franchise. The world that has come to life so vividly on the screen will be re-targeted before the magic wears off. I had no idea at all.
But recently, something has changed.
As more details began to emerge about the upcoming TV series, I felt myself leaning towards this endeavor. Starting later this year, episodes will be released on HBO and HBO Max every ten years, and each season focuses on one of the seven books to tell more of the story than the film adaptation. As much as I love the movies, having more time to delve into the side stories and details that weren’t seen on screen the first time around doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
When HBO dropped the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone this week, I felt a mixture of trepidation and curiosity. How familiar — or not — will this reimagined world feel? As I hit the game, those feelings quickly gave way to an unexpected excitement.
In the trailer, we see the loneliness of Harry’s upbringing as he is thrown into the cupboard under the stairs, scolded by his aunt and abused by his cousin. We hear him lamenting that he did not know his parents. We see him taking the splendor of Hogwarts by surprise. We watch him shine as he finds happiness with new friends.
The actors who play the golden trio of Harry (Dominic McLaughlin), Ron (Alastair Stout) and Hermione (Arabella Stanton) seem to fit their roles, even in the brief glimpses we get of them navigating this wonderful and exciting world.
The iconic lightning bolt scar, the calligraphic welcome letter, the Hogwarts Express home — it’s all familiar but completely new. Despite my previous skepticism, it’s exciting to be a part of this second wave of magic — even if I still see the show as a clear attempt to continue to profit from a successful franchise. But instead of viewing the TV series as a departure or replacement for the beloved movies, I choose to see it as another way to keep the wizarding world alive through a new lens.
When the train leaves the station, I might jump on and enjoy the ride. When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone starts in December, I’ll be watching, Butterbeer in hand. As Hagrid wisely put it, “What’s comen’ will come, an’ so meet it when it comes.
