The Harry Potter Franchise Reboot: Here’s What We Know So Far

Warner Bros Discovery is likely looking to reboot Harry Potter via the development of a new division classified as “Wizarding.” Here’s what we know from behind-the-scenes.

The following article is based on insider information leaked to That Park Place writers. It is therefore not part of a company release and should be accurately classified as rumor. We make no declaration that any of the information within this article can be independently verified nor do we claim that it will be delivered in the future to the public or market in the state which is described. Readers should judge for themselves how much belief or skepticism should be applied given the track record of the author.

Even while That Park Place was taken offline to recode significant chunks and stop malicious actors from gumming up the works (so to speak), we’ve been making waves across the internet. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but it is what it is. Sometimes we report on things that should be explosive and nobody picks it up; other times the various authors around the major news outlets decide to give coverage to what we think is a major exclusive. Such was the case when I exclusively revealed with Valliant Renegade that a very highly placed source (among others) had relayed to me that Harry Potter was getting a franchise reboot in the next 3-5 years. Further contacts have verified parts of that reporting.

The video is now out on Valliant Renegade’s channel. In Valliant Renegade’s video, the YouTuber is talking to WDW Pro about the additional details. Both first talked about the source of this information, stating that it comes from one single person. They also assured the fans that they wouldn’t have relayed this information if they weren’t sure about it. But it should be put in the rumor category. Then they spoke about the Harry Potter universe and how it is called the ‘Wizarding Division’ internally. The video emphasized that rebooting will also include the recasting of the iconic cast of the movie franchise. Moreover, this is not a spinoff movie like Fantastic Beasts. Instead, it is the core Harry Potter story that will be reimagined under a new wing.

— Sanchay Saksena, IGN

So with all of that contextualizing, let’s dive straight into the information sent my way and what I think of it:

According to three sources within the industry, WBD is working to assess many of its non-DC properties and set potential courses for those IPs. While companies often assess their properties, WBD seems to have kicked this into overdrive as David Zaslav looks to chart a path forward for the company. As reported in the past, this may be part of a plan to increase the overall value of WBD for a sale in the future, although we have not confirmed that and cannot make a strong prediction for a future that is many years ahead. What we do know is that both DC and the Wizarding Division (Harry Potter) are seen internally as the most important franchises the company holds.

To that end, WBD wants to transform the Wizarding side of things into a more DC-like division in the future. As of now, plans for the post-OG Harry Potter have been relegated to “project basis.” In other words, whatever is worked on for Harry Potter is carried out with only a single project in mind. It’s piecemeal, if you prefer that terminology. But many in higher leadership at WBD allegedly feel that the entire franchise needs a Kevin Feige type character (or perhaps James Gunn type) to lead a newly-formed division. For some, this also is believed to offer a buffer between some of the cast and talent that would be needed and J.K. Rowling. The original author and controlling partner in all things Harry Potter has some views which are not well-received in Hollywood and from those of a particular political persuasion (I’m taking no side on this issue for the purposes of this article, nor do I wish to be sidetracked by such).

Part of what is driving the need for a “reboot” in the franchise is the recognition of a few points:

1. The nostalgia window is viewed to be closing. The original movie launched 22 years ago. How many Spider-Man reiterations have been released since then? How many Ninja Turtles relaunches have occurred?
2. The company is allegedly aware of a steep division within the Harry Potter interest levels. For Hogwarts and OG Harry Potter interest, the market is still red hot. People love Harry Potter as presented in the original books. But attempts to branch out into new areas of the Wizarding universe have been extremely unsuccessful. It’s not just the sputtering of the movies; it’s everything tied into Fantastic Beasts and more. Consumers aren’t into it.
3. Many have determined that there is no forward with Harry Potter without Harry. If this franchise is to stay vibrant, it needs its namesake pulling the cart.

Now I know that there are a number of individuals out there who have said they don’t want a Harry Potter reboot. They love the original movies. I understand all of that and I also get the reasons for trepidation. But it should be noted that a traditional reboot doesn’t have to be in the cards. An origin story do-over isn’t necessarily the way WBD will go, even if I don’t yet know what they will ultimately decide. Perhaps they will have original cast open an episode in a new series where a recast of the children are then shown in a new story we haven’t seen on the big screen before. There’s certainly plenty of material like that and the reference via the now-adult actors playing a cameo could settle down hard feelings.

I suggest the prior point just to say that there are a number of ways that Warner Bros could seek to recast the youthful era Harry Potter characters without alienating all the fans. You can probably think of dozens of additional ways once you have your imagination jogged in such a way.

Here’s one more thing we know from sources in-the-know. The upcoming Hogwarts Legacy video game is being used as the barometer for actions going forward. If the game does exceedingly well, you can count on more people inside Warner Bros and beyond having confidence that Harry Potter fans can be brought back to full speed if the franchise is handled well. If Hogwarts Legacy does not entice people back to the brand, however, all of this becomes a harder sell. And it should be noted that companies within entertainment are taking video games very seriously these days — engagement with a video game is seen as a terrific way to gauge market interest, especially due to its interactive play and role playing mechanics.

While I would love to tell you exactly how I know all of this and where I get all this information, sadly that’s not in the cards. Sources need to be protected, as is always the case when reporting on rumors. But for this one, declaring that a franchise is being rebooted in 3-5 years is both a major risk on my part and also a risk for the source. So please be thoughtful when considering why I might not be able to provide more specifics at this time.

So what do you think about a Harry Potter reboot? Are you ready to return to Hogwarts with all the gang from the original novels? Or is it too soon? Will it always be too soon? Let us know in the comments below!