Credit: Inside the MagicIf you thought we’d already reached peak Harry Potter, think again.
Nearly 30 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, if you want to adopt the book’s nonsensical U.S. moniker) first hit shelves, the Harry Potter franchise is still going from strength to strength.
Between 2001 and 2011, all seven of JK Rowling’s books about a young wizard destined to defeat Lord Voldemort were adapted into blockbusters by Warner Bros., with Daniel Radcliffe starring as the eponymous lead. Over the course of the series, Radcliffe was joined by the likes of Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), and a stellar cast of British legends for what stands up as one of the most successful movie franchises of all time.
But Warner Bros. hasn’t stopped there.
The studio is currently in the process of re-adapting the books. This time around, the franchise will take to the small screen with HBO, with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout taking over from Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint, respectively, and filming each series in quick succession to avoid issues with aging à la Stranger Things. While responses to the reboot have proven extremely mixed – with some frustrated by the decision to further platform Rowling amid her divisive views on gender identity – Warner Bros. has promised that it will be more thorough and loyal to the books than its cinematic predecessor.
Meanwhile, over on Amazon’s Audible service, yet another new version of the series will see a cast of actors – including Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Snape, and Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Stanton for the younger version of the Golden Trio in the first three books – step in for a full-cast audio adaptation.
As per a new Bloomberg report, we could also see an AI-enhanced version of the franchise soon enough.
Is An AI Version of ‘Harry Potter’ About To Hit The Sphere?
Fresh off the success of The Wizard of Oz (1939), the Sphere has apparently spoken to Warner Bros. about adapting Harry Potter for similar performances.
This summer’s run of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere – the gigantic spherical venue in the heart of Las Vegas, famous for its luridly projected exterior – has seen the classic musical expanded with the use of generative AI to fill the entire venue and thoroughly immerse guests in the world of Dorothy and friends. Performances also integrate multi-sensory 4D elements, such as wind and fog.
Despite mixed reviews, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is reportedly raking in an average of $200 per person. At two or three showings of 4,000 to 5,000 fans per day, the venue is raking in as much as $2 million per day from the film. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that both the Sphere and Warner Bros. are curious about the next big blockbuster to further boost ticket sales.
Notably, it would also require very little effort on Warner Bros.’ end. As per Bloomberg, Warner Bros. was more than willing to let James Dolan, the executive chairman and chief executive officer of Sphere Entertainment Co., to assume the cost of adapting The Wizard of Oz. In turn, Warner Bros. receives a licensing fee and a small share of sales. A win-win situation for both parties.
But combining AI and Harry Potter may not be the home run Dolan expects. Many media fans are extremely resistant to the use of generative AI in the film industry, positioning the very valid argument that it undermines and soullessly replaces the work of talented creatives.
Do you like the idea of Harry Potter at the Sphere?