(Yes, this is technically about a TV show but it is also about films so sshhh)

So, the first trailer for the HBO Harry Potter series has been released.

I’ve seen my favourite films get cycled into the unnecessary sequel factory and some repeated into Disney live action remakes (which I don’t put much stock in), but this is really the first time that something I was there for (for the most part) and witnessed when it came out is being remade. So, this is a new experience for me.

The relative recency of the behemoth that is Harry Potter film series and how huge and beloved it still is always made the decision to make a TV series feel like little more than a cash grab. Harry Potter was and still is a cultural phenomenon, a huge part of many people’s childhoods and a series that has been passed down through generations. The notion of remaking it for a new generation doesn’t feel right at this point; the films don’t feel dated at all and have been readily accepted by the children of the original generation – they have already entered a kind of classic film canon and remain on regular rotation for kids and adults alike. Yet, here we are. Before we go any further, I am aware that is this *technically* a ‘readaptation’ but it doesn’t feel like it when its visual world has to stick so closely to its predecessor (for merchandising reasons *ahem*) nor when a previous adaptation seemed to already do the job and to such a hugely successful degree.

Moving past that scepticism that has sat with me and many others since the series’ announcement, the experience of watching the trailer was utterly bizarre. It felt almost like a fever dream, as the majority of the sets and costume design are extremely similar to that of the films (when you have theme parks and merch already based on the films, they were never going to stray far for the series), but with different actors and a 2020s ‘prestige TV’ sheen across the whole thing. A strange dream where things are almost there but not quite right; it is at once familiar and alien, with beloved characters now strangers, and the whole thing lacking warmth (which perhaps is added to by the feeling that the initial intention was a desire for cold, hard cash, not the creation of magic). It looks like Harry Potter, but something is off, pushing it into the unsettling territory of the uncanny valley. Utterly strange to me as the first remake of something I love. This is also, probably, a unique case in the way it has to skew so close to the original films despite it being a remake.

I have seen many remakes before of films throughout cinema history, and I’ve even committed the cardinal sin of sometimes seeing a remake before the original purely because of my age or when the remake came out. I can appreciate and compare these as different iterations from a more objective standpoint as it doesn’t feel like I have skin in the game. However, to have an established relationship and familiarity with something and then see a new version of it means you view it differently. Naturally, you feel protective and even with the most open mind, for a phenomenon so engrained in so many of us, it is hard to get past that. My mum and I have the same debate every year over Little Women (1994) and Little Women (2019), based on where we were in our lives when each was released (yes, I know these are readaptations, not remakes, but the point still stands). When you have a years-long relationship with a piece of art or media, particularly if it is tied to a formative time in your life, seeing it being remade can feel like a slight against something you love or just plain odd. Particularly something as culturally pervasive as Harry Potter both in its reach, its lasting power and the fact they owned a decade of near-annual releases.

I’m sure fans of originals have felt like this for years when films they love have been remade, but this feels especially odd. Yes, I know this is technically a readaptation than a remake, but when an adaptation has already been successful, what is the need? Yes, some things were missed out from the books as always back in the day when books were made into films not (often stretched out) miniseries, but these were less consequential matters that don’t feel like enough of a justification. Where films are forced to make edits to fit a two-three hour runtime, miniseries often make a mistake on the opposite end of the spectrum; stretching out the story over too many episodes so that it loses pace and interest. The first Harry potter books were shorter so are at more risk of this; really, the number of episodes per season should vary by the book. When films have become iconic and their actors still so instantly recognisable as their characters, it is going to be hard to dislodge that from people’s minds when trying to present them with a new version. I do not wish to disparage the new cast as there are some truly excellent actors taking on the roles, but the films really had the great and the good of British acting talent – it would be harder to find a top British actor who wasn’t in Harry Potter, than one who was. It all just creates a kind of cognitive dissonance that will be hard to get past regardless of how well made the series is.

I’m sure the series will get a lot of attention upon its release; it also seems to be trying to capitalise on the film’s de facto Christmas film positioning (due to their cosy familiarity) with its Christmas Day release. However, it is hard to imagine it become what the films were. It doesn’t even have the ridiculous justification claim of ‘updating it for the new generation’ (most good films are timeless, when this happens it is really synonymous with cash grab) as it is sticking to the 90s setting of the books (thank goodness, I don’t know if I could handle seeing TikTok in the HP world). It just feels unnecessary and, quite frankly, unwanted by most people. I doubt even fans who, at the time, were annoyed to not see some parts of the books in the films, still harbour a strong enough grudge all these years later (for the most part).

My guess is any viewing success will be driven more by curiosity than anything. I, admittedly, will likely watch some, if not all, of the first episode purely to see. I don’t think it’ll set my heart or imagination on fire. I also don’t think it’ll necessarily damage the legacy of the films which feels too set in stone at this point. I think it is just another example of diluting stories as they become brands, stretching them as far as possible. Hopefully this won’t reach breaking point.