The Harry Potter Spinoffs Fans Most Want To See Happen
The rumor mill is abuzz with reports that Harry Potter is getting its very own series on HBO Max, and fans have plenty of opinions on what direction the streaming service should go if it actually happens. While author J.K. Rowling certainly isn't the most popular person on the internet these days, and long-time fans of the series are hoping to devour a show in the Wizarding World where she's not calling the shots behind-the-scenes.
Sure, it would be easy to redo the original series in a TV format, but when has that ever ended well? Instead of churning out a remake, fans would much rather see an expansion of the world they've lived in since childhood. It's certainly too soon to replace the likes of Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley). And just try replacing Dame Maggie Smith or the iconic late Alan Rickman — fans will riot.
Instead, why not expand on the many compelling concepts introduced in the series that never got a chance to truly shine on their own? There are so many fascinating characters, time periods, and history mentioned in the series that would make for riveting TV. From the highly coveted Marauders series that fans have been clamoring for since the early '00s to the Unspeakables in the Ministry of Magic, here are the series fans want to see most. Would you watch them?
The Marauders
Ask any fan what spinoff they're itching for, and the first thing out of their mouths is usually "The Marauders." Despite knowing that the lives of the OG trio (and Wormtail) all end in tragedy, we want to go along for the ride — even after things get dark. And what better decade to set to a Potter series in than the '70s? We know what the Muggle world was like in the transformative decade, but what was going on in the Wizarding World during the days of disco as Voldemort rose to power? Additionally, many Potter fans don't vibe with any of the canon couples. A Marauders show would allow us to get embroiled in the James/Snape/Lily love triangle — and you can't help rooting for a certain redhead and her slightly immature raven-haired Potter paramour.
In addition to fleshing out the Lily and James backstory, we can finally meet Harry's grandparents when Sirius avoids his death eater sympathizing family. At the same time, we can watch the OG crew help Lupin deal with his werewolfism. The series can even touch on the early days of the Petunia and Lily rivalry.
The films don't do the Marauders justice, and the books don't give us nearly enough of the ragtag group of Gryffindors. But mostly, we just need to see Sirius and James get into ridiculous shenanigans while Professor McG gives them the same bewildered look of judgment she gives the golden trio. It also wouldn't hurt if someone threw Wormtail in the Great Lake — call it pre-catharsis.
Becoming Lord Voldemort
There's no arguing that Voldemort, and even his younger identity as Tom Riddle, is a real piece of work. Lacking all morals with a disturbing thirst for power, the villain makes all of the wrong choices and displays zero remorse. In his quest for immortality, he ends up getting himself killed at the age of 71 — about 50 years before the average wizard lifespan. So, how does someone get to the point of ripping their soul apart while they become a ruthless dictator obsessed with "purifying" the wizard race?
Hollywood has given a lot of space to the villains lately, with projects like Joker and Suicide Squad. Still, a Voldemort series could provide the blueprints to take the villain's story in a different direction: without romanticizing his actions because he had a rough childhood. So did Harry, at the hands of Voldemort no less, and he didn't try to enslave the wizarding world. We need more villain projects that offer a character study without making villains sympathy cases.
We see glimpses of Riddle's disturbing backstory primarily in The Chamber of Secrets and The Half-Blood Prince, but fans want more. From his time horrifically stringing up bunnies in his orphanage to his downfall at the hands of baby Harry, fans are dying for a series that chronicles the darkness of Tom Marvolo Riddle. Just don't tell Tom that, because he'll take it literally — and he never passes up the opportunity for a little homicide on a dull Monday.
The founders folly
The Goblet of Fire sorting hat remarks on the history of "Old Gryffindor from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin from fen," but fans only get bits and pieces about the Hogwarts founders throughout the Harry Potter series. What wouldn't fans give to watch a series that centers around the drama and wonder of the founders? Between the best-friends-turned-nemeses story between Gryffindor and Slytherin and Salazar's creepy secret construction of the Chamber of Secrets all of the way to his subsequent departure from the school, there's no shortage of plot points. How does one discreetly hide a massive snake in the basement of a wizard school, and who wouldn't want to see that play out on-screen?
A founders series would provide the perfect opportunity to address the wizards' longstanding vitriol against Muggle-borns while offering a deep look at Hogwarts' first class back in 990 A.D. The show can even remedy the travesty that the school poltergeist Peeves, who appears at the school three years after its creation, never showed up on-screen in the original films. But best of all? We can watch the Grey Lady's (Helena Ravenclaw) sinister backstory with the Bloody Barron play out. The few backstory pages we get in Deathly Hallows, and the movies' tiny scene are not nearly enough. There's so much rich history tied to the first years of Hogwarts, making it a fascinating fictional period piece to tackle.
For the greater good
Fantastic Beasts is great and all, but we already got to see a dictator rise to power in the original series. While Grindelwald's quest for domination is a compelling narrative, we lack stories that chronicle villains before they take over the world. Dumbledore's shady backstory slowly unravels in the original series, but fans don't get to delve into it too deeply — especially in the films. Additionally, the Fantastic Beasts movies avoid the topic of Dumbledore's love for Grindelwald, which Rowling announced herself. You can't just make a statement like that to boast representation without actually including it in the story — especially when you write a prequel where both characters share the same space.
We need to see why a young Dumbledore fell for Grindelwald's charm and lies around 1892. It's pretty clear that if Grindelwald did return Dumbledore's affections, it was a manipulative tactic, but that story needs to play out. Additionally, the Deathly Hallows became an integral part of the original Potter series, but we still know so little about them.
Let's see Dumbledore and Grindelwald's quest for the Hallows while interspersing the objects' history along the way. Given that Grindelwald went to Durmstrang, this origin story would provide a more in-depth look at the rumored dark arts affiliated German wizarding school. And finally, we can see what really happened with Dumbledore's sister, Ariana. Of course, the series would have to bring back Jamie Campbell Bower (young Grindelwald) and Toby Regbo (young Dumbledore).
Quidditch Through the Ages
One thing's for certain: We don't get enough Quidditch in the books or movies. Like the original Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book, Rowling published a non-fiction guide to Quidditch under the in-universe pen name of Kennilworthy Whisp, who wrote the version mentioned in the series. The book chronicles the sport's creation through the Quidditch fanatic's eyes. A show could follow the same format with a new cast and a new decade of quidditch evolution each season or occur in modern times with flashbacks or narration from Kennilworthy.
Professional Quidditch is one of the most underdeveloped sub-plots in the series, and fans would love to watch the sport play out with a more central focus. The short scene we get in The Goblet of Fire features the 1994 Cup between Ireland and Bulgaria, and it's one of the most breathtaking scenes in the series. We need more of this energy.
It would also be fun to play with in-show ads for things like Butterbeer and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes to lend a nod to real professional sports advertising. The Parks and Rec episode, "The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show," did this, and it proved to be a beloved tactic. Additionally, given how badly the films snubbed Ginny Weasley, she can make an appearance in all of her glory as she became a professional Quidditch player after the war. Actress Bonnie Wright could even reprise her role. Basically, we just need more Quidditch.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Step aside Grimm fairy tales: There's a new kid in town. As seen with Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages, Rowling has written a number of the books mentioned in the Potter series, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard is no different. As mentioned in The Deathly Hallows, Ron is scandalized that Harry and Hermione didn't grow up reading the classic wizarding fairy tale book that most wizard kids can all but recite from memory. How shocking that your Muggle-born friend and the kid whose aunt and uncle trapped him in a cupboard for the better part of his childhood didn't read wizarding fairy tales, Ronald.
However, real Muggles at home deserve to see the stories on-screen. With fascinating stories of whimsical characters like Babbity Rabbity and the tale of the Three Brothers, the short 5-part book offers a slew of life lessons for children and adults. So why not turn the epic children's stories into an animated series geared toward older children yet still topical for adults? It can either be a mini-series with each tale spanning an episode or two, or each adventure can have its own season. The films lightly animated The Three Brothers' story in The Deathly Hallows, and it would be cool to play around with that same innovative animation format used in the series.
The curse breakers
Being a curse breaker just sounds like the kind of cool job you lie about on your resume. Getting to travel the world to seek out ancient artifacts on behalf of some magic goblins? Yes, please. While we don't learn all that much about curse breakers in the Potter series, they have a captivating Indiana Jones vibe that would be fascinating to explore.
Bill Weasley worked as a curse breaker in Egypt during the series, which would make the perfect setting for a show set around his archaeological discoveries (and the curses that come along with them). The series can tackle Egyptian mythology while Bill uncovers the sinister curses placed on the ancient artifacts — but the series doesn't have to be limited to Egypt. He can either have a new locational assignment every season or travel to other areas for episodic arcs when writers want to spice things up. A secondary focus can shine on Gringotts Wizarding Bank and the goblins, as they employ most curse breakers. Hopefully, though, the series would have better graphics than the badly photoshopped photo of the Weasley family that shows up in the movie.
Witch hysteria through the ages
One of the most fascinating (and underdeveloped) aspects of the Potter series is the rich history of the wizarding world and its existence right under Muggles' noses. By modern times, the wizards and witches seem to have the secrecy thing down pat, but what happened in the olden times when fear of sorcery ran rampant throughout the world? A series on witch hysteria could touch on the fact that it wasn't always so easy to blend into "regular" society when witch hunts were commonplace.
Take characters like Nearly Headless Nick, for example. The guy just wanted to help a cute girl by straightening her teeth. Instead, he gave her some gnarly tusks and now spends his days as a nearly decapitated member of the Hogwarts ghost crew, getting denied entrance to the Headless Hunt because his executioner didn't know how to wield an ax all those years ago. So much drama tied to the persecution and fear from Muggles.
A historical show set in one of the periods of high witch hysteria would be fascinating. For example, the days of early Christianity that overthrew Paganism in places like Ireland and Scotland — or even somewhere like Salem would make for a thrilling setting. Each season could tackle a new period and location while featuring any mentioned characters within that time period from places like chocolate frog cards.
The misuse of magical creatures
The horrific treatment of magical creatures is no secret in the wizarding world, and Hermione Granger brings it to our attention all throughout the series. Whether it's the enslaved house elves, a shackled and sickly dragon chained in the Gringotts basement, or wizards continually using and stealing from the goblins, wizards have a long way to go in terms of treating their fellow-creatures properly. Charlie Weasley doesn't show up in the series often, but he's a fan-favorite for a reason. He just really loves dragons, okay?
While we have the Fantastic Beasts series, fans could certainly use a Charlie-led series that's set up documentary-style to highlight different areas of misuse and abuse regarding wizards' treatment of the magical beasts that share their space in the wizarding world. Of course, the series would hone in on dragons, who have become dangerously sparse over years of hunting them — and we could even bring in cameos from Hagrid and Norberta if the series calls for it. What has that silly dragon been up to these days, anyway?
The famed alchemist
We hear from an elderly Nicholas Flamel twice in the Harry Potter universe: Once in The Philosopher's Stone when he uses the stone to revive Harry (but we only get a recap from Dumbledore since the events knocked out Harry for a while), and in Fantastic Beasts where we actually get to see him on-screen. Flamel has appeal in all fantasy fandom levels, as his lore is one of the most vibrant in medieval times. Moreover, Flamel is a real man who actually existed from the mid-1300s to the early 14000s — and while there's no real proof he was even into alchemy, the reputation followed him even after death thousands of years later.
Flamel has become the subject of countless movies, films, and book series, giving a series surrounding his story appeal even outside of the Harry Potter fandom. What exactly was his journey to discover the Philosopher's Stone? What was a young Flamel like? A series based in medieval times centered around Flamel would be an excellent opportunity to feature French wizarding school, Beauxbatons, prominently while chronicling Flamel's mad scientist shtick as he seeks eternal life from a stone that turns metal into gold.
The unspeakables
It's challenging to speak about a group of people when you have no clue what they actually do, but the Potter series manages to do it anyway. The Ministry of Magic workers called Unspeakables are among the most mysterious aspects of the Potter series and its equally shrouded Department of Mysteries. We know that there's a Love Chamber, a Time Chamber, a Death Chamber, and the Hall of Prophecies — and each chamber could play a role in a series centered around the secret department and its shady workers.
The show could play out a bit like Marvel's What If...? and pose different alternate realities, timelines, pairings, and death reversals that are all meddled with magic somehow. The Unspeakables would spend the episode putting the events back to their rightful place, much to the fandom's dismay.
A series like this would essentially be fan service for all of the headcanons and alternate plotlines fans have reminisced about over the years. However, the Unspeakables would offer a great way to do it in a way that makes sense within the wizarding world. We just want to see what would happen if Nevill was the Chosen One and if Sirius didn't go into the veil, okay?