J.K. Rowling’s series of Harry Potter novels have been successfully adapted as a feature film franchise. Now, however, the books are set to be reimagined yet again: this time for television. It’s been announced that Max (previously HBO Max) will be the home of a new Harry Potter television series. Now the Harry Potter announcement is facing backlash from fans.
The series is expected to adapt one book per season, and furthermore, do so with an all-new cast. With the success of the previous film franchise, however, and more recent controversies surrounding Rowling, it isn’t surprising to see the announcement wasn’t accepted in open arms. In fact, many of the reactions have been extremely negative.
J.K. Rowling has been criticized by fans who believe she is transphobic. As such, the announcement that she’s attached to the series as an executive producer didn’t sit well with these fans. Others are just upset to see the film franchise replaced with a brand-new adaptation. Especially with how important these original cast members are to certain fans.
Here’s an example of the backlash against the Harry Potter series announcement:
the terf wants more money and to erase daniel radcliffe’s harry potter but she won’t be able. i hope this shit flops HARD.
fuck you HBO max
and anyone who supports this is siding with transphobes. idc fuck you too https://t.co/tPrCdXPqR5— jack 🩸 || the mandalorian spoilers (@asavagegarden) April 12, 2023
Above all else, a Harry Potter series is just not feasible with today’s television model. CGI heavy franchise TV seasons now have two year gaps between seasons minimum. You cannot recreate the “growing up with the cast” feeling when every actor is in their 30s for season 7
— Max (@EPM106) April 12, 2023
we don’t need harry potter reboot
they’re the golden trio ✨ pic.twitter.com/lIdc9EKriT
— fran multi 💫🕷️🕸️ (@hpspideywayne) April 12, 2023
They’re remaking Harry Potter again either because they’re not creative enough to come up with new ideas that’ll sell and/or because Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson all spoke out against JK Rowling’s transphobia and she doesn’t want them associated as the leads. https://t.co/720iApnKjq
— Barra (@ThatBmanGuy) April 12, 2023
Harry Potter and the millions of other stories that exist and haven’t ever been adapted not even once.
— Sacha Coward (@sacha_coward) April 13, 2023
not to be annoying but if y’all mention fucking harry potter in 2023 as part of your max promotion launch and not our flag means death, the show with exclusively queer main characters one of whom is trans and nonbinary, i will very much call that transphobia https://t.co/wLYm34C4Ps
— duke/அனிருத் 🫀 (@dvkerose) April 12, 2023
you gotta imagine that, besides more money, a big part of the appeal of a harry potter tv show for JKR is having a “definitive” adaptation to point to instead of the movies whose core casts have publicly disavowed her
— largest rodent (@capybaroness) April 12, 2023
Anyone involved creatively is going to end up in such a bind. No way they’ll be allowed to re-interpret—not when the brand is so recognizable it’s pasted all over theme parks—which’ll set everyone up for failure. Like a Disney live action remake of an already live action thing. https://t.co/X2lKOJhYQS
— Siddhant Adlakha (@SiddhantAdlakha) April 12, 2023
“A faithful adaptation.”
Stoked to watch kids recite the books verbatim in front of volume screens for 10 years. Exciting stuff. Art! https://t.co/TigouIeJgR
— Clay Keller (@claykeller) April 12, 2023
All I ever wanted as a tween was a H*rry P*tter tv show and now all I want is to chuck the whole franchise into a vat of acid 🙂 ✨ Obliviate ✨etc
— Caroline Darya Framke (@carolineframke) April 12, 2023
https://t.co/WhJdOHBwIj pic.twitter.com/6sOuOsyFUP
— Matt Jacobs (@majacobs) April 12, 2023
A Harry Potter reboot with JK Rowling as an executive producer on MAX?
HBO really said, “Let’s just knock out all the shitty PR at once” huh?
— Justin Kirkland (@justinkirkland4) April 12, 2023
JK Rowling is VERY dedicated to the new series. She called us at 3am and said she’s going to be checking the bathrooms on set. She said some other stuff too but it’s not important. https://t.co/G4x0en1TZr
— Max (Official) (@DieRobinsonDie) April 12, 2023
They just officially announced the Harry Potter reboot.
And announced that JK Rowling is an EP.
Go f**k yourself, Zaslav.— Kevin D. Grüssing (Pronounced Grew-sing) (@KevDGrussing) April 12, 2023
All the Rowling stuff aside, in the little teaser for the Harry Potter show they used the same logo, the same music, and even the same castle as the movies. Like, what is even the point of this? They’ve got whole theme parks based around the actors and the look of the movies?
— Alex Zalben (@azalben) April 12, 2023
Of course, given the way of the internet, Warner Bros probably expected as much. Still, though, the decision to completely start the Harry Potter franchise over is surprising. Especially with how much effort the studio has placed in building a world surrounding the original live-action films. But given the decreasing success of the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs – perhaps that’s what motivated this decision.
In any case, we’ll have to see what comes of this new Harry Potter series from Max. One thing is for certain, though – this is likely only the first phase of backlash we’ll be seeing. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates on the show or reactions from fans as we have them. It’s definitely going to be an interesting time.