In case you have not heard, a “Harry Potter” TV present is coming to HBO and controversial creator J.Okay. Rowling is concerned. Rowling’s anti-trans feedback have forged a Dementor-sized shadow over the upcoming venture, which is among the foremost explanation why the sequence may very well be destined to flop. That stated, the writer’s polarizing private stances aren’t the one factor that would doubtlessly injury the present’s success, as she’s been recognized to make unwelcome artistic modifications to the “Harry Potter” lore all through the years.
Ever for the reason that Boy Wizard’s literary adventures got here to an finish, Rowling has retconned quite a few parts of the tales — often on social media — and killed among the magic. The author’s post-publication additions to Wizarding World lore embody every thing from modifications to characters’ backstories to revelations about pooping … and let’s simply say the updates have not been universally praised. If Rowling insists on implementing these concepts within the HBO sequence, it might show extra devastating than Voldemort unloading an “Avada Kedavra” curse on a hapless sufferer, and the present’s deliberate 10-year run may very well be lower unceremoniously quick.
On the flip aspect, the tv sequence is a chance for Rowling to repair a few of these errors and restore the magic that made “Harry Potter” so interesting to hundreds of thousands of individuals within the first place. With that in thoughts, let us take a look at among the worst examples of the writer’s retconning and posit how the HBO adaptation can clear issues up.
A few of JK Rowling’s modifications broken the Harry Potter lore
J.Okay. Rowling’s retconning is arguably a response to followers’ eternal obsession with all issues “Harry Potter.” Folks need to know extra in regards to the Wizarding World, and whereas the untold trivia is fascinating, among the writer’s post-publication revelations come throughout as compelled and insincere. For instance, did we actually must know that magic folks as soon as used their skills to eliminate their poop earlier than they embraced Muggle rest room methods? Most likely not, however that is not even essentially the most pointless — or complicated — piece of knowledge Rowling has shared.
Let’s discuss in regards to the choice to make Nagini a human of Asian descent earlier than she turned Voldemort’s pet snake. “Incredible Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” — which is ready 70 years earlier than the principle “Harry Potter” narrative — explores this subject, and Rowling put within the work on social media to justify it, revealing that the character is a Maledictus, i.e. an individual cursed to remodel right into a creature. There’s nothing inherently fallacious with giving Nagini a backstory, however the reality it is not even hinted at within the “Harry Potter” books makes it redundant. Not solely that, however the retconning of Nagini has additionally been criticized as a shallow try to drive range right into a franchise that lacks it — and it is not the one instance of this particular difficulty at play.
Rowling has claimed that Hermione’s race is not explicitly talked about within the books, though a passage in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” describes her face particularly as white — and Emma Watson’s now-famous portrayal of the character has additional solidified this notion. The writer additionally made an enormous deal out of Dumbledore being homosexual, which is not introduced up within the books in any respect. Illustration is an effective factor, however confirming it on X (previously generally known as Twitter) years later — versus conveying it on the web page — makes it meaningless and complicated. (The “Incredible Beasts” film did not do a complete lot with this concept both.) So, how can the upcoming present make sense of those modifications?
How the Harry Potter HBO sequence can clear issues up
JK Rowling’s makes an attempt to retcon “Harry Potter” have not landed the best way she hoped. There’s an argument to be made that her updates are a response to the fandom’s refusal to let the story finish, however the writer’s revelations aren’t constant together with her authentic storytelling. Thankfully for her, the HBO sequence is a chance to meaningfully combine a few of these concepts right into a compelling narrative (whereas additionally burying the pointless ones).
Arabella Stanton’s casting as Hermione in HBO’s “Harry Potter” adaptation proves that the creators are embracing a few of Rowling’s modifications. By placing a younger, combined race performer within the function, Hermione can now be established as an individual of coloration — as Rowling supposedly meant her to be — and clear up any lingering doubts about her identification. Elsewhere, the present must both legitimize the concept Nagini was as soon as human or, higher but, ignore it. The unfavourable response to the character’s retconning means that followers most popular her as merely a snake, versus an Asian lady who turned a race-purist wizard’s pet. But when she should be a Maledictus, the HBO sequence ought to deal with it in a means that is compelling and warranted.
Most of Rowling’s retconned backstories are pointless, however others show an absence of consideration to element. Take, as an illustration, Professor McGonagall’s (Fiona Glascott) appearances within the “Incredible Beasts” franchise, the place she is proven educating at Hogwarts within the Twenties and ’30s. Nonetheless, the Pottermore web site — which is Rowling-approved canon — reveals that the character was born in 1935, so how might she be an grownup through the “Incredible Beasts” timeline? Nonetheless, Rowling has been recognized to replace the professor’s backstory sometimes, and a few of it deserves to be explored within the HBO sequence.
Considered one of JK Rowling’s modifications is value protecting
Let’s face it: Minerva McGonagall thrived once we did not know a lot about her. The unique “Harry Potter” books — and their subsequent film diversifications — painting her as a powerful, no-nonsense professor who instructions respect just by being herself. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” which takes place within the mid-Nineties, additionally reveals that she’s been educating at Hogwarts for 39 years by that time, which contradicts the aforementioned “Incredible Beasts” timeline. The upcoming TV sequence ought to persist with the unique plan, however it could actually additionally implement a few of Rowling’s authentic additions to McGonagall’s lore to take away the stench of her complicated appearances within the prequel films.
Previous to “Incredible Beasts” retconning McGonagall’s historical past, Rowling penned an informative biography on Pottermore during which the longer term Head of Gryffindor was engaged to a Muggle farmer however in the end selected a lifetime of magic on the expense of romance. It is a tragic story in some methods, however McGonagall’s choice additionally strengthened her company and ambition, making her much more admirable. She later discovered love with a member of the Ministry of Magic — just for him to die after being bitten by Venomous Tentacula. Did we have to know this? Not likely, however it’s fairly fascinating.
The HBO sequence would not should dive into McGonagall’s authentic historical past in nice element, however alluding to it must be sufficient to dismiss the complicated mess that’s her background in “Incredible Beasts,” whereas additionally including extra depth to an in any other case mysterious character. On the very least, it’d carry some consistency again to the Wizarding World’s timeline — and finish the fan debates about McGonagall utilizing a Time Turner with a view to train at Hogwarts earlier than she was even born. Rowling has since amended the professor’s biography to replicate her appearances in “Incredible Beasts,” regardless of the books contradicting it, so perhaps it is time to return to the unique concept and go away it at that.
HBO’s “Harry Potter” seres is slated to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in 2027.
