HBO’sHarry Potterremake can mess up a lot of things, but there are a few details the new series must get right. Like many other Potterheads, I hold a special place in my heart for the Warner Bros movies. However, I can’t deny that these films didn’t quite get everything right. TheHarry Potterremake is a chance at redemption—a book-faithful adaptation that checks all the boxes.
Of course, the definition of “book faithful” is up to interpretation. HBO has promised that theHarry Potterremakewill align with the books, but the series is sure to take some creative liberties regarding the more ambiguous aspects of the series. This is fine with me, and I welcome new interpretations of this story I know and love. However,there are a handful of aspects that are absolutely nonnegotiable.
10Harry Must Have His Snarky Book Personality In The Harry Potter Remake
The Movies Missed These Parts Of Harry’s Character
Something that has always frustrated me about theHarry Pottermoviesis that Harry’s character is just nothing like his book counterpart. Daniel Radcliffe is fantastic, but his on-screen character was scripted as a sort of astounded observer of the Wizarding world. Harry’s book cheekiness was cut entirely.
If the titular hero ofHarry Potterisn’t as snarky and sarcastic as his book counterpart, I will have a rather difficult time watching HBO’s remake.I’m desperate to see the record set straight regarding who Harry is as a protagonist. He should be witty, sarcastic, argumentative, and, at times, devilishly clever. Anything else simply won’t cut it.
9Ron’s Character Can’t Be As Shallow As In The Harry Potter Movies
Ron Should Be Brave & Loyal
Like Harry’s character, Ron wasn’t treated particularly well by theHarry Pottermovies. However, while Harry was overly simplified,Ron was made far more shallow and, in a sense, stupid than he was meant to be. Sure, Ron Weasley is uncouth and very much a teenage boy in theHarry Potterbooks, but he isn’t void of redeeming qualities.
Sure, Ron Weasley is uncouth and very much a teenage boy in the Harry Potter books, but he isn’t void of redeeming qualities.
The firstHarry Pottermovie showcased Ron’s bravery and willingness to stand up for his friends. However, after that,any of his more intelligent book lines were handed over to Hermione. This is something that theHarry Potterremake simply must repair. Ron can be funny without being a feelingless jerk.
8Ginny’s Character Must Be More Complex In The Harry Potter Remake
Harry & Ginny’s Romance Can Go Over Much More Smoothly
While we’re on a roll regarding characters that theHarry Pottermovies misrepresented, we absolutely must mention Ginny Weasley. Once again, this is in no way a criticism of Bonnie Wright, who had all the potential to be an excellent Ginny. It ultimately comes down to how this character was scripted for the films. To put it mildly, Ginny was just dull.
Book Ginny was a force to be reckoned with, but this was nowhere to be seen in the Harry Potter movies.
Book Ginny was a force to be reckoned with, but this was nowhere to be seen in theHarry Pottermovies. This meant thatwhen Harry began to fall in love with her, audiences didn’t quite get it. As someone who adoresGinny’s character in theHarry Potterbooks, I’m excited to finally see this version brought to the screen. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll quickly lose interest.
7The Harry Potter Remake Must Dive Deeper Into The Marauders' Story
We Didn’t Get A Marauders Spinoff, So The Harry Potter Remake Must Compensate
TheHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanmovie omitted a substantial amount of information. It was never even mentioned that James Potter and his friends had turned themselves into Animagi so that they could spend time with Lupin when he transformed into a werewolf. Moreover, the fact that these characters were Marauders who created the map was left out.
Naturally, theHarry PotterTV show will have more time to include this information come season 3. However, I’m determined to see the new series dive even deeper into this story. We’ve been requesting a Marauders spinoff for years, but HBO gave us aHarry Potterremake instead. At the very least,season 3 must feature a full flashback episode further exploring James Potter and co.’s adventures.
6Snape’s Character Can’t Be Watered Down This Time
Snape Could Be Downright Nasty In The Books
Severus Snape is one of the most morally ambiguous characters in theHarry Potterseries, making him a challenging individual to adapt to the screen. Of course,Alan Rickman was irreplaceable as the sinister Hogwarts professor. Still, I can’t say that I was entirely pleased with how Snape was presented.
Rickman’s Snape was certainly a jerk, but this was significantly watered down compared to the books. At times,the version of Snape we saw on the page was downright childish, throwing massive fits whenever he didn’t get his way. This would be uncomfortable to see on screen, but it’s necessary to get the full look at his characters. The whole point is to feel slightly unsettled by Severus Snape.
5Voldemort’s Full Backstory Must Be Included In The Harry Potter Remake
The Harry Potter Movies Lost All The Nuance
My favoriteHarry Potterbook has always beenHalf-Blood Prince, so I was pretty disappointed to see that the details of Voldemort’s backstory were cut from the films. Of course, I can reasonably see that there just wasn’t enough time in the movies to dive into the Pensieve and watch Merope Gaunt’s tragic story unfold.
With a full season dedicated to Half-Blood Prince, I expect to see each Pensieve memory played out in detail.
This, of course, won’t (or shouldn’t) be the case for theHarry Potterremake. With a full season dedicated toHalf-Blood Prince, I expect to see each Pensieve memory played out in detail.It’s imperative that we get the full scope of Merope’s crimes and misfortunes, ensuring that the villain ofHarry Potteris seen to the very bone.
4Peter Pettigrew’s Death Can’t Be Ignored In The New Series
The Movies Completely Botched This Dark & Tragic Moment
I maintain thatone of the greatest crimes of theHarry Potterseries was Peter Pettigrew’s death(or lack thereof). The character wasn’t just left hanging, but his final moments on screen were treated as slapstick comedy. Compared to the books, where Pettigrew’s death was steeped in tragic, poetic justice, this was painfully superficial.
As previously stated, the Marauders' story is one of the more fascinating aspects of theHarry Potterseries. The fact that, by the end of book seven, each had met a tragic fate is all part of the appeal.The individual stories of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew serve as cautionary tales, each for their own reason. To effectively capture this, HBO’sHarry Potterremake can’t ignore any one of them.
3The Harry Potter Remake Needs To Capture Daily Life At Hogwarts
With More Time, This Should Be Easy To Achieve
This is a simple but key aspect of theHarry Potterseries. One of the greatest pleasures of reading the books comes when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are simply living life at Hogwarts. There’s something peaceful about doing homework in the Gryffindor common room, enjoying meals in the Great Hall, or lounging by the Black Lake on a nice day.
TheHarry Pottermovies included some such moments, but there wasn’t enough time to really capture that magical feeling. Such scenes in theHarry Potterbooks are typically full of hidden clues regarding that installment’s central mystery, so they aren’t a waste of time plotwise. I’m eager to see more Hogwarts life in theHarry Potterremake. After all, this is what made us all want to attend Hogwarts ourselves so badly.
2I’m Desperate For A More Expansive Hogwarts Set In The Harry Potter Remake
HBO’s Remake Can Take Inspiration From Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts isn’t just a castle. It’s essentially a living, breathing character of theHarry Potterseries. We couldn’t begin to guess the number of secrets hidden within the walls, and even the books only touch the surface in this regard. Harry does his best to explore Hogwarts, and each book comes with more reveals. Unfortunately, theHarry Pottermovies don’t fully capture this.
Interestingly, the most expansive look at Hogwarts comes from the video gameHogwarts Legacy. This version of the castle included many of the staples we saw in the films, but there was so much more to wonder at and enjoy.It’s imperative that the set in theHarry Potterremake feels just as big. It could even be beneficial for the HBO series to take direct influence from theHarry Pottervideo game.
1The Harry Potter Remake Must Be Set In The 1990s
So Far So Good In This Regard
Thankfully, it looks as if HBO’sHarry Potterremake is already aligning with my demands in this regard. In the books, Harry receives his Hogwarts letter in 1991. This isn’t necessarily a critical detail, soit was perfectly possible that HBO would decide to shift the setting to bring a modern retelling ofHarry Potterto the screen. However, the nostalgic ’90s are a far better setting.
Harry Potter set images detailing the Dursleys' outfits hint at a ’90s setting for the TV remake.
It would be beneficial for HBO to make the decade clear in itsHarry Potterremake. ’90s fashion in the Muggle world would help differentiate this non-magical environment from the Wizarding worldthat Harry is entering. Moreover, nostalgia will be key in the upcoming TV series. The more we see the ’90s on screen, the more theHarry Potterremake will really feel like the story we know and love.
