Warner Bros. boss Channing Dungey sheds some light on the intentions of the upcomingHarry Potterseries from HBO. Based on the bestselling books, the first film adaptation came out 2001 and led to seven more movies, which performed well critically and commercially. Every movie earned the “Certified Fresh” accolade from Rotten Tomatoes and made a whopping $9.5 billion at the global box office. SincetheHarry Pottershow was first announcedin April 2023, there’s been concern that the new series could tarnish the robust reputation of the movies.
Speaking withVariety, Warner Bros. TV Group’s chairman and CEO made the intentions of the new HBO show clear. First, he said that progress has been moving along, with the writing staff in place, “doing what they need to do,” and casting calls open in the U.K. and Ireland. He then added that working with theHarry Potteruniverse was an unbelievable dream, since he’s a fan of the books, and thatthe “whole reason we’re on this journey”is the opportunity to explore the books a little bit more in-depth than the two-hour movies. Read his full comment below:
Dungey added that working with the “Harry Potter” universe was an “unbelievable dream, honestly, and as somebody who is a huge fan of the books, the opportunity to get to explore them in a little bit more in-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 an assurance to those still skeptical about theHarry Potterseries from HBO. While the show will most likely step on the toes of the legacy of the films, the creative team has admirable intentions in mind. 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 lore of the books, ultimately leading to a television series that’s more faithful to the books.
This would likely mean including more complete storylines, as many subplots were either partially or entirely eradicated in theHarry Pottermovies. Characters who do not appear in the movies at all, like the mischievous poltergieist, Peeves, for instance, could appear in the show, while other supporting characters could be more fleshed out. Even the main trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron will be receiving more screen time on a television show, and are therefore likely to have characterization that’s more in line with the books.
Our Take On Channing Dungey’s Comments
I’ve previously said that I have mixed feelings about HBO’s upcomingHarry Potterseries. These comments, though, have helped alleviate my concerns. The casting choices for the movies were impeccable, finding talented actors who were just as interesting as the iconic characters they portrayed. The whimsical essence of the books was also well-adapted and the plots were streamlined to fit the new medium better. However, as I read through the books, I noticed that, as movie adaptations usually go,a few storylines and characters I would have liked to see in the films were left out.
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Admittedly, most of these changes were made for the better. For example,the books had a knack for slowing down the pacing of their third acts, which were usually filled with dragging dialogue.The prolonged explanation of Peter Pettigrew’s betrayal of Lily and James Potter in the Shrieking Shack, or the nigh-insufferable explanation of Voldemort’s resurgence in the graveyard, come to mind.
With the additional runtime given to a television series, HBO’sHarry Potterremake has the opportunity to include things fans of the books missed in the movies.
Some changes, however, were less beneficial. UsingthefourthHarry Potterbookas an example, several key things were left out.Sirius Black’s involvement in the plot of the book added a lot more development to his character, which made the impact of his death in the fifth bookmore hard-hitting. Another thing that was left out in the movie was Hermione’s creation of S.P.E.W. (the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare), which called for the better treatment of house-elves. With the additional runtime given to a television series, HBO’sHarry Potterremake has the opportunity to include things fans of the books missed in the movies.
Harry Potter
Cast
Harry Potter is HBO’s remake of the iconic Wizarding World film series that consisted of eight films between 2001 and 2011. Each season adapts a book from JK Rowling’s popular series and provides more book-accurate details than the movies did.
