"Erased From History": Harry Potter Star's Thoughts On The HBO Remake Ignore One Of The Harshest Realities It Faces
Harry Potter is being rebooted as a TV show for HBO, and one Harry Potter star has a strong opinion on that. With the Harry Potter TV show expected to come out in 2027, anticipation continues to build for Hollywood's ambitious new take on J.K. Rowling's global phenomenon. Launched in 1997 with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Harry Potter book series defined millennial life for many and went on to form the basis of the legendary Warner Bros. movies.
With all of Harry Potter's main characters cast so flawlessly in the movies, it remains for the Max show to keep the standard high in the overall Harry Potter franchise. Certain big roles have already been cast, with Nick Frost claiming Rubeus Hagrid, to the delight of many. John Lithgow has been confirmed as Albus Dumbledore, while Paapa Essiedu is going to play Severus Snape. With all these big names now attached to the Harry Potter TV series, it remains to be seen how it will compare to the movies.
Jason Isaacs' Harry Potter Remake Comments Ignore The Inevitable Cast Comparisons
Jason Isaacs Will Not Be Forgotten Any Time Soon
Speaking to Collider, Lucius Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs commented on a harsh reality of the Harry Potter remake's cast, expressing concern that the previous version will be forgotten. Isaacs' concerns that the old Harry Potter cast may be forgotten in light of a new one emerging are utterly understandable but ultimately not needed. Judging from his words, Isaacs is probably very aware that his emotions are that this was somewhat inevitable, famous franchises cannot go forever without being remade by someone somewhere at some point.
How Dumbledore Is Described In The Harry Potter Books (& How The Movies' & Show's Actors Compare)
Albus Dumbledore is one of the most famous characters in the world of fantasy, but his portrayal has varied greatly among actors and stories.
Interestingly, the Harry Potter TV show casting rumors have already boosted public conversation about the old cast, among industry types and fans on social media alike. Not only is the current buzz about the show amplifying sales and views of the Harry Potter movies, but it will continue to do so long into the future. As the show rolls out across its multiple seasons, critics and fans won't stop comparing the cast of the Harry Potter movies to the cast of the TV show. For better or worse, the films won't be forgotten any time soon.
Movie Comparisons Are The Harshest Reality Facing The Upcoming Harry Potter Show
The Harry Potter TV Show Will Face Many Comparisons
Perhaps the biggest problem the Harry Potter TV reboot must overcome is the constant comparisons to the movies. The TV show will obviously have to prove its validity, being made so soon after the movies, by displaying its own unique style, message, and tone. However, the essence of this problem comes down to a looming comparison to the iconic movies, directed in turn by Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, and David Yates. In reality, it is probably the TV show that will suffer due to the recent movies, rather than the other way around.
The TV show will face ongoing comparisons to the movies that might not do it any favors.
Jason Isaacs noted concern about being "erased from history." Rather than genuinely assuming that the movies won't get watched and their casts' names will be forgotten, he is likely referring to the general shift in the public consciousness that happens as franchises evolve and future generations come to relate a different actor to a role than the previous generation did. While this is inevitable to a certain extent, the TV show will face ongoing comparisons to the movies that might not do it any favors. The show should be appreciated in its own right, not through comparisons.
HBO's New Cast Would Have To Be Really Impressive To Really Replace The Movie Actors
The Harry Potter Movies Had An Incredible Adult Cast
Although future generations will inevitably identify Hogwarts' famous professors and other important members of the adult Harry Potter cast with the actors most recently in their lives, it would be unlikely for this to happen on a mass scale. The Harry Potter movies launched in 2001 and finished in 2011. After the original series of movies ended, the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies came out to continue their legacy and keep them fresh in audiences' minds, with their most recent release in 2022. Meanwhile, the show is due to launch in 2027.
David Yates directed all three Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movies.
With just four years between the last Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie and the Harry Potter TV show, Harry Potter fans won't have remotely forgotten Richard Harris' or Michael Gambon's Albus Dumbledores, let alone Jude Law's. It is quite unusual for a remake to emerge so soon after the original, which has obviously triggered concerns, but is ultimately why they are probably unfounded. There are indeed younger who aren't familiar with the Harry Potter books or movies yet, but surely not enough for the previous version to be forgotten.
As such, while there will be lots of "zoomers," and also those even younger, watching the show and experiencing Harry Potter for the first time, a lot of people will actually have seen the movies. This unique remake situation can help avoid the historical rewrite that Jason Isaacs is worried about. Meanwhile, the Harry Potter remake won't repeat actors from the movies, as per a confirmation from HBO's head of IP, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. This will further help Harry Potter maintain due respect for all cast members, new and old.
Source: Collider, The Hollywood Reporter
Harry Potter
- Showrunner
- Francisca Gardiner
- Directors
- Mark Mylod
- Writers
- Francesca Gardiner
- Franchise(s)
- Harry Potter
Cast
Dominic McLaughlinHarry Potter
Janet McTeerMinerva McGonagall
Albus Dumbledore
Nick FrostHagrid
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.
