Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why J.K. Rowling needs to relinquish control of the 'Harry Potter' franchise
Far Out Magazine ^ | WED 27TH APR 2022 | Calum Russell

Posted on 04/27/2022 2:13:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway

When you consider some of the biggest and most lucrative movie franchises of the 21st century, no doubt, the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars and The Fast and the Furious come to mind. It’s easy to forget, however, that just over a decade ago the answer to this question would be much different, with the Harry Potter franchise dominating the contemporary box office, raking in $7.73 billion in total from 2001 to 2011.

Creating a fervent excitement from children and adults alike across the world, the Harry Potter books and movies, now included under the ‘Wizarding World’ umbrella, created an internationally recognised brand that has since splintered off into the emergence of theme parks, theatrical experiences and video games. Though, whilst the brand continued to bulge, the material of the Wizarding World remained stagnant, with little for fans to consume other than the original Harry Potter movies.

Written by the then-beloved author of the original books, J. K. Rowling, the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2016 was supposed to spark a new era for the franchise, fueling, in turn, more merchandise, more material and more fandom. Instead, with the release of the third film in the series in 2022, it appears as though the Fantastic Beasts movies have done more to tarnish the brand than enhance its quality.

The tragedy of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise Read More

Based in part on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter tie-in guidebook of the same name, the Fantastic Beasts series was one built on false promises, with none of the meticulous plotting of the novels to rely on, despite the author herself writing the screenplay. The films are instead a messy mosaic of ill-fitting characters, needless storylines and scant originality that relies on nothing more than morsels of Wizarding World trivia to justify its existence.

If the material of the movies weren’t enough, actor Johnny Depp was kicked from the production of the second film in the series The Secrets of Dumbledore in November 2020 due to her ongoing lawsuit with Amber Heard that marked him as a potential domestic abuser. In addition, J.K Rowling sparked an internet firestorm in 2019 when she posted tweets deemed to be transphobic by the internet community.

“People who menstruate. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” the writer commented on Twitter in 2020, causing outrage from the LGBTQ community and others. Meanwhile, as recently as March 7th, 2022, Rowling came against recent legislation for women and girls, discussing the “likely negative consequences,” if the bill were to pass that made it easier for transgender people to identify as their chosen gender.

Popularly disliked in the modern zeitgeist, Rowling no longer holds the cultural weight she once did, with many disregarding her opinion and stance, unwilling to support the views and work of a ‘transphobe’. In consequence, many boycotted the latest Fantastic Beasts movie, and with The Secrets of Dumbledore on course to barely break even and make back its staggering $200 million budget.

Clutching hold of the franchise, Rowling is suffocating the Wizarding World with an anaconda’s squeeze, draining it of its eccentricity, pleasure and, ultimately, its magic.

With the third film in the Fantastic Beasts series likely to be the last, now would be the perfect time for J.K Rowling to relinquish control of the Wizarding World brand, with a George Lucas-type deal worth billions.

Much like Lucas created a beloved series from the ground up in Star Wars, then proceeded to leave the stagnant franchise shortly after the release of the prequel trilogy in 2005, J.K Rowling is in a position where she can make more money by handing the franchise over, rather than struggling with constant creative toil. Without control, Warner Bros would have the final say in all Wizarding World projects, including movies, video games and much more, breathing new life into a series that is begging for reinvention.

For the perfect nostalgia play, the company could consider, for example, a film series about ‘The Order of the Phoenix’ in which the younger versions of beloved characters such as Albus Dumbledore, James Potter, Lily Potter, Rubeus Hagrid and many more return to the big screen. Or, how about focusing on the international wizarding schools that were barely explored in The Goblet of Fire, or even the high-flying potential of a Quidditch sports flick?

The Wizarding World radiates creative promise, with a wealth of colourful ideas and eccentric characters to follow and explore, but the first step to allow Warner Bros to explore such prosperity is to offer the dishonoured gatekeeper a handsome fee.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: calumrussell; humblegunnerkaren
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: Jeff Chandler

Yes, but it meets the woke requirements and that’s all that mattered to Kathleen Kennedy.

I saw an interview with one of the screenplay writers. He had no knowledge of “screenplay writing 101”. He didn’t even understand the concept of tension. But he sure felt he was the greatest writer ever. These people are all incompetent frauds.


41 posted on 04/27/2022 2:45:31 PM PDT by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Ah yes, she should give up control to the purple hair brigade so they can retcon Hermione as a tranny. That will surely save the franchise.


42 posted on 04/27/2022 2:48:18 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Apparently not.

Nothing but full out acquiescence is good enough for the demonically controlled left.


43 posted on 04/27/2022 2:48:51 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Captain Peter Blood

” I suppose he would like Disney to buy it.”
Then the Disney movie would have Dumbeldore “doing” Harry, followed by the twins.
Disney now has the fine tradition of effing up whatever movie they touch.


44 posted on 04/27/2022 2:48:54 PM PDT by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

It’s her world! She can do whatever the hell she wants with it.


45 posted on 04/27/2022 2:49:49 PM PDT by Ge0ffrey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: max americana
I work for Disney and everyone there knows

That you have a basement full of kids chained to the wall?

Totally true, just ask any Qtard.

46 posted on 04/27/2022 2:49:59 PM PDT by humblegunner (Ain't drownin', Just wavin'...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Crusher138

Exactly, the real story about Depp has entered the public awareness thanks to the trial in the US being broadcast.

All the same information was already out there when he got “cancelled”, but it wasn’t on television, since the UK trial wasn’t televised, so the unwashed masses remained blissfully unaware of it.


47 posted on 04/27/2022 2:51:20 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Rowling should hang on to her creation. It’s her Baby.
Some may liken that to Rosemary’s Baby, but it is her project to treat as she so pleases.

Besides, if someone is petty enough, intolerant enough to hate the author for stating a few basic opinions, they will continue to hate anything that was ever inspired by that author.


48 posted on 04/27/2022 2:54:30 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: humblegunner

“That you have a basement full of kids chained to the wall?”

yup. Kids name are humbleidiot , humbleretard2 those kind of kids. and dont forget idiotgunnerretard3


49 posted on 04/27/2022 2:57:20 PM PDT by max americana (fired leftards on cue after every election since 1992, and enjoyed seeing these bastards cry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“Written by the then-beloved author of the original books…”

This is funny because it’s delusional.


50 posted on 04/27/2022 2:59:31 PM PDT by TalBlack (We have a Christian duty and a patriotic duty. God help us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
She's got lots of money.

She should hire some guys to go give Calum a tune-up.

51 posted on 04/27/2022 3:01:17 PM PDT by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

He doesn’t seem like a weirdo and an idiot?


52 posted on 04/27/2022 3:01:35 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler

“The lack of struggle and defeats for the protagonist betrays a lack of understanding of the most basic storytelling skills.”

Initially a book series turned in to live action movies.


53 posted on 04/27/2022 3:03:10 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

They want to steal her stuff.

It’s that simple.

L


54 posted on 04/27/2022 3:04:24 PM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: max americana

You captured them, you can name em anything you like.


55 posted on 04/27/2022 3:04:47 PM PDT by humblegunner (Ain't drownin', Just wavin'...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
the writer commented on Twitter in 2020, causing outrage from the LGBTQ community

To be clear, the LGB community is fine with J.K. Rowling. It's the TQ community that has a problem with her.

56 posted on 04/27/2022 3:07:22 PM PDT by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Drew68

It’s not just transgender people. A lot of young people bash her for this.


57 posted on 04/27/2022 3:08:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Classic wokist. Do not create, but infest something others worked for, scream outrage at any deviation from the extreme agenda, fly into tantrums of cancellation, hatred, and demand ownership of others’ work and property.

Would they consider making their own thing? Some have tried, and nobody, nobody wants that garbage. Instead, they just spoil everything they can get their hands on.

This has a word, largely used these days for sex, but applicable in everything these losers do: perversion (to turn something inside out).


58 posted on 04/27/2022 3:13:25 PM PDT by No.6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I don’t think he’s an idiot. He certainly seems to be able to hold his own under cross examination. As for being a weirdo, sure he’s guilty of that, he’s an artist, and that is pretty much par for the course.

But the real story is that he is not a “wife beater” like the Amber Heard and her leftie allies tried to portray. In fact, the opposite is true; Heard was regularly physically attacking him and he was running away to hide and get away from her rather than respond with violence of his own.


59 posted on 04/27/2022 3:14:32 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
In one corner, Far Out Magazine:

Similarweb:
Net revenues $1 to $5 million annually.

uk globaldatabase (2020):
Total-Assets of £150,655.00
Working-Capital of £67,849.0
Total-Liabilities is £53,481.00

Number of employees: 3

In the other corner, J.K. Rowling.

Net worth: $1 Billion.

That sound you did not hear is the sound of an ant attempting to break wind and failing.

60 posted on 04/27/2022 3:18:47 PM PDT by Widget Jr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson