Warner Bros. Wanted to Make Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Movies
It’s been over a decade since Warner Bros. released their last Harry Potter movie, but the studio’s desire to capitalize on the wizarding franchise remains strong. Warner Bros., now Warner Media Discovery, has shifted focus from Harry Potter to magizoologist Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts prequel movies. However, the interest in Harry Potter’s world has not faded.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter has continued to evolve, notably through the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This production explores the lives of Harry and Ginny Weasley’s children, who attend Hogwarts alongside Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy. The script for the play was published by J.K. Rowling as a book, marketed as the next entry in the Harry Potter series, which led to some confusion and disappointment among fans expecting a traditional novel.
The Adaptation Question
Given Warner Bros. Discovery’s ambition to expand the Potterverse, an adaptation of The Cursed Child seems logical. The story includes many original characters, though they take a back seat to the next generation. According to a report from Puck, Warner Bros. considered adapting The Cursed Child into two movies following its stage debut in 2016. However, J.K. Rowling, along with stage producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, declined. They believed that a movie adaptation could negatively impact the play’s longevity and profitability.
The Cursed Child is still performing well, having opened in five territories and yet to be produced by touring companies or on cruise ships. The play’s extended life cycle compared to movies or TV shows means there’s still much to gain from its continued stage presence.
Internal Studio Hesitations
Not everyone at Warner Bros. was enthusiastic about a Cursed Child movie adaptation. Some executives felt that it would be an acknowledgment of the Fantastic Beasts series’ underperformance. The diminishing box office returns of the Fantastic Beasts films seem to confirm these concerns, with each new installment earning less than its predecessor.
Future Possibilities
Convincing Rowling and the original cast, including stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, to approve and participate in a Cursed Child movie presents significant challenges. Rowling’s controversial anti-trans rhetoric has created tension within the Harry Potter community and among the cast, with Radcliffe publicly criticizing her statements.
While a Cursed Child movie remains uncertain, Hogwarts and the wizarding world will undoubtedly continue to be a significant part of popular culture. New Harry Potter content is on the horizon, even if a movie adaptation of The Cursed Child doesn’t materialize.
