Tag: Harry Potter

A Harry Potter and the Cursed Child film adaptation would be a mistake

If Warner Bros. decides to go through with a film version of the Cursed Child, it will be a lot harder to pretend that it doesn’t exist.

I’ve been away for a while with a reasonable excuse to not have written anything on this blog for a month, and it pertains to the subject of the blog anyway.

Hogwarts Legacy has completely taken over my life and during my first playthrough of the game, it reminded me why I fell in love with the Wizarding World in the first place.

It’s so incredibly immersive with details on literally everything. I completed my playthrough with a 100% completion and I’m diving back in for my second playthrough soon as I aim for that PlayStation Platinum Trophy.

Check out the two below videos from my first time through the game before I discuss Cursed Child:

So, it’s been heavily rumored online that Warner Bros. Studios is trying to recruit the Golden Trio: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, to reprise their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in a film adaptation of the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

This would be a GIGANTIC mistake.

Most of my reasons are for the sake of the story that we already know. But other reasons are for the success of the other stories that have emerged from the Wizarding World as of late.

Back when the “book” version of Cursed Child released in 2016, I made a YouTube video about all of my issues with the story. Feel free to watch below, but I’ll still write some of them out.

To sort of summarize this video, there are major flaws with the story and the way the characters behave within it. There are also lore breaking elements within the story that muddy the plot of the seven masterpieces that came before it that I simply can’t accept.

Since 2016, I’ve done perfectly fine with eliminating Cursed Child from my head canon. Since it’s just a stage play for Broadway goers, I can happily stay away from it and not have to remind myself that it happened.

If Warner Bros. decides to go through with a film version of the Cursed Child, it will be a lot harder to pretend that it doesn’t exist. Especially if Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson reprise their roles.

I said all I could about the narrative reasons why Cursed Child in that video from above, but there are other real-world issues that would make it a mistake as well.

With major motion picture franchises and adaptations completely dominating Hollywood over the last quarter century, it comes at no surprise that this idea and rumor is out there. The Star Wars saga and super hero genre is suffering from oversaturation at the moment and audiences are letting it be known online, but not necessarily with their wallets. Regardless of how these projects are recently received by audiences, I find it hard to believe that Cursed Child won’t happen.

The quality of Star Wars and Marvel movies has worsened over the last couple of years. While there have been diamonds in the rough for each: The Mandalorian and Andor for Star Wars and Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi for Marvel, the overall quality of each franchise has suffered. People are becoming exhausted by these franchises and it seems there’s no end in sight for the content of each.

I don’t want this to happen for Harry Potter.

Some people would say that the Fantastic Beasts films were one, two, and three trips too many back into the Wizarding World. But I actually enjoyed those films. I like the ideas of prequels more than sequels if they need to be made at all.

It’s something I wish Star Wars did instead of returning to the time of the Original Trilogy and muddying up the plot of films that released 40+ years ago. There are SO MANY planets, stories, and eras to discuss when it comes to Star Wars but now, content keeps coming out that makes me rethink what we’ve already known about Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and more for half a century.

How about an Old Republic storyline? How about a story about an ancient Sith Lord? A story about the Whills and how the Force and Jedi came to be? What about the droid attack on the wookiees?

I’m kidding with the last one obviously since we see the droid attack on the wookies in Revenge of the Sith, but the first three would be very awesome stories to tell.

Don’t get me wrong, everything Dave Filoni has done for the Star Wars saga is brilliant. All the TV shows from The Mandalorian, to Andor, to Tales of the Jedi, all great. But for the most part, Star Wars has soured many fans on the film level.

Cursed Child is what went wrong for the sequel trilogy for Star Wars but for the Potter story. It’s like a fan-fiction gone wrong and I don’t want it glorified for the sake of money for massive audiences. But that’s the issue: it’s going to haul in thousands of Gringotts vaults full of Muggle money and there’s no denying that.

But WHY? Just like Star Wars, there are so many different things that you can write stories about and make movies or shows for!

Consider Hogwarts Legacy: a story that takes place in the 1880s-1890s. It’s 100 years before Harry Potter is born in-universe. While characters like Phineas Nigellus Black make appearances, this game is everything a Potter fan could want out of an extension of the saga: a world full of Easter eggs and callbacks while also being a brand new story that doesn’t diminish the original stories or characters that came before it in real life and what comes after it in the life of the Wizarding World.

The Fantastic Beasts films have still given so much more context to Albus Dumbledore as a character and I hope we get to see those films conclude on the big screen. Dumbledore’s duel with Grindelwald and his family issues were absent from the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but it’s something book fans are so excited for.

But the Fantastic Beasts films have done more than just tell a story about a younger Dumbledore. It introduced us to Newt Scamander, who is an absolutely lovely character that I’ve grown to care for. We also saw American and French wizards in action in their own native countries. They’ve done so much lore and world building for the franchise that have positively affected it, in my opinion.

There were rumors about two series being developed by HBO Max about the Four Hogwarts Founders as well as a series about the Marauders and Snape during their time at Hogwarts.

I would be fine with either of those! You might nudge into some strange territory with a series about Harry’s parents because that could muddy some stuff up potentially, but you still need to get to the point where they’re murdered by Voldemort somehow. While there’s potential to do a lot with a Point A in that story, Point B is set in stone and that protects it.

However, rumors for those shows have died down and rumors to reboot Harry Potter over again with a series have caught fire on top of the Cursed Child rumors.

That would be even worse than Cursed Child.

I know this blog is about how I don’t think Cursed Child should be made into a movie, but the rumors of this reboot show happening too is just as bad. This is actually a blog about how the idea room at Warner Bros. seems to be the worst idea room in the world.

I feel like the possible reason for this reboot series is because Disney+ is moving forward with a Percy Jackson and the Olympians series that will follow the course of the books and will be written by the series’ author: Rick Riordan.

I’m very excited for that show and that Riordan is writing it. You may ask: “But Danny: why is this a good reboot and the Potter one isn’t when there were Percy Jackson films that came out within the last decade or so?”

Here’s Why: because the Percy Jackson films weren’t faithful adaptations nor were they the worldwide phenomenon that the Potter films were.

A line outside a theater for the midnight release of “Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows: Part 2“

I went to every film midnight release of the Potter films and the midnight releases for the books. Always crowded, always exciting, always memorable. While I read the Percy Jackson books and loved them too, the movies just didn’t have what Potter had.

This Disney+ series is an opportunity for Percy Jackson to get his due with a faithful adaptation that he deserves. The first two books were the only ones that were adapted into films and they were received poorly by critics, audiences, and fans of the book series.

The Potter films, just like the books, were acclaimed by literally everyone. It doesn’t need a reboot series a decade after the film adaptations concluded. As a book fan, yes, there are some things cut from the film adaptations that I wish were there, but if I really wanted them that badly, I’ll just reread the books.

Since Riordan is the one writing the show, you know great care will be taken of the characters in the Percy Jackson lore. You know damn well why JK Rowling isn’t going to be invited back to write about her characters, so any reboot would be starting off on the wrong foot (strictly for a narrative reason before you come after me about her world views).

I hope the Percy Jackson series does well and I hope the Potter reboot is killed and thrown in the garbage before ever being spoken about again.

I promise I’m wrapping this up now.

I really hope Cursed Child and the reboot series don’t happen.

Cursed Child will ruin a story that was perfect as is and the reboot series will unnecessarily capitalize on something that doesn’t need to be addressed for a long time.

Harry Potter changed the world. The way adaptations are made. The way children’s stories are written. The way movies are viewed. Potter had a hand in all of this.

Hell, you could argue that the reason the modern movie landscape looks the way it does now is because of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies in 2001.

Would it be the success of the Harry Potter franchise that will ultimately kill it if Cursed Child or a reboot release? It’s an interesting question to ask.

But since neither a Cursed Child film nor a reboot has been officially announced, all I’ll say is please don’t fucking make these. If they do, I guarantee I will not be a member of the audience.

Alright, I’m going to dive back into Hogwarts Legacy, reread the Potter books again, and watch the eleven movies that I hold as canon.

~DS

Phineas Nigellus Black in Hogwarts Legacy bridges the gap between page and screen

For fans of the Harry Potter books, this will be the first time Phineas is fleshed out in visual media.

Another day, another blog about Hogwarts Legacy!

What can I say? I’m pretty damn excited! Especially since it was announced that Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, & more) will be portraying Phineas Nigellus Black in Hogwarts Legacy!

The above video is a little featurette on how Pegg came to be Phineas and how he behaves as a character within the game. As Pegg says himself, it’s only right that the long line of British acting royalty that has starred in the Harry Potter films continues with him and his video game performance. I also enjoy that despite Pegg doing the voice for Phineas, the in-game model strikes a resemblance to Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black, which makes familial sense.

Simon Pegg’s Phineas Nigellus Black in “Hogwarts Legacy” (left) and Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” films (right)

For fans of the Harry Potter books however, this will be the first time Phineas is fleshed out in visual media and that has me extremely excited.

Within Potter lore, Black was a Slytherin and became Headmaster of Hogwarts from the late 1800s until his death in 1925. He is the Great-Great-Grandfather of not only Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, but also Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Phineas Nigellus Black (misspelled “Phineus”) on the Black Family Tree within 12 Grimmauld Place in the film version of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”(2007)

Sirius is quoted in the Order of the Phoenix book describing Phineas as the “least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had.” The Hogwarts Legacy video and the quotes from the book prove that as the last Slytherin Headmaster before Snape within the Potter books, Black isn’t fond of school children nor their aspirations as young witches and wizards. I imagine this will be cause for some funny interactions within the game.

I wanted to talk a bit more about why the inclusion of Phineas within Hogwarts Legacy is a big deal though. For me, it’s because he was almost completely omitted from the Harry Potter films despite having a very significant role in the novels.

Phineas Nigellus Black is first introduced to us in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix novel. A painting of the former Hogwarts Headmaster graces the walls of the home of the Black family, muttering snarky comments toward Harry, his friends, and the Order while they live at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Later on in the novel, Harry learns that there’s a portrait of Phineas amongst the many portraits of old Headmasters of Hogwarts in Dumbledore’s office. Phineas is able to travel between his portrait at Grimmauld Place and Dumbledore’s office to commune messages and report findings between the Order and Dumbledore.

Phineas is the one who checks to see if Arthur Weasley had made it home from the Ministry the night he was attacked by Nagini. Phineas is able to not only confirm the legitimacy of the snake attack but also communicate to the Order that Arthur was in critical condition.

If it weren’t for Phineas, Harry’s frightening vision may not have been communicated quickly enough to save Mr. Weasley in time.

Dumbledore speaks with the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black in the film version of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007)

Phineas also warns the Order to head to the Ministry of Magic at the end of the book to help rescue Harry and his friends from the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. He has a cantankerous interaction with Harry before this happens:

Phineas Nigellus: I have a message for you from Albus Dumbledore.
Harry Potter: What is it?
Phineas: Stay where you are.
Harry: I haven’t moved! So what’s the message?
Phineas: I have just given it to you, dolt. Stay where you are.
Harry: Why? Why does he want me to stay? What else did he say?
Phineas: Nothing whatsoever.
 Harry: So that’s it, is it? ‘Stay where you are?’ That’s all anyone could tell me after I got attacked by those dementors too. Just stay put while the grown-ups sort it out, Harry! We won’t bother telling you anything, though, because your tiny little brain won’t be able to cope with it!
    Phineas: You know, this is precisely why I loathed being a teacher! Young people are so infernally convinced that they are absolutely right about everything. Has it not occurred to you, my poor puffed-up popinjay that there might be an excellent reason why the headmaster of Hogwarts is not confiding every tiny detail of his plans to you? Have you never paused, while feeling hard-done-by, to note that following Dumbledore’s orders has never yet lead you into harm? No. No, like all young people, you are quite sure that you alone feel and think, you alone recognise danger, you alone are the only one clever enough to realise what the Dark Lord may be planning –
  Harry: He is planning something to do with me, then?
  Phineas: Did I say that? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do than listening to adolescent agonising… good-day to you.

Harry Potter and Phineas Nigellus Black argue in the novel version of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix“

In the film version of OOTP, Phineas’ lone scene is the “Mr. Weasley” scene, however, it’s his only appearance in any of the film versions of Harry Potter. We don’t even see him speak to Dumbledore in the scene.

Even in one of the most iconic scenes from both the novel and the movie, Phineas’ line from the novel is given to Kingsley Shacklebolt (played by George Harris) in the film. While I fully support the Kingsley line change, it was actually Phineas who says it in the book.

Phineas also displays sadness for the death of Sirius at the end of Order of the Phoenix. While he constantly complained about his great-great-grandson, a portrait was actually disturbed and saddened by the loss of its subject’s descendent.

“‘Am I to understand […] that my great-great-grandson – the last of the Blacks – is dead?’…He would walk, perhaps, from portrait to portrait, calling for Sirius throughout the house.”

Phineas Nigellus Black learning the news of the passing of Sirius Black in the “Order of the Phoenix” book.

Phineas returns most prominently in the final Potter novel: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

In the seventh book, Phineas’ portrait accompanies Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s quest to find and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes in order to defeat the Dark Lord.

Hermione shoves the portrait into her small beaded bag, which is charmed with an undetectable extension spell.

Mary GrandPré illustration of Hermione with Phineas’ portrait from the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” novel.

As a mode of precaution, Hermione stows the portrait away so that the current Hogwarts Headmaster, Severus Snape, couldn’t be reported to on their whereabouts. Little did Hermione know that Snape was actually a very good man and assisted Harry, Ron, and Hermione while under the guise of a Death Eater.

Snape conjures his Doe Patronus to guide Harry toward Godric Gryffindor’s sword in the Forest of Dean about halfway through the book. While the events of the movie play out identically with the Silver Doe, what isn’t a part of the film version is that it is Phineas’ portrait that tells Snape exactly where Harry and Hermione are on Christmas Eve.

Snape, further proving he’s a good man, even corrects Phineas on his use of the word “Mudblood” when talking about Hermoine.

Phineas Nigellus: “Headmaster! They are camping in the Forest of Dean! The Mudblood —”
Severus Snape: “Do not use that word!”

Phineas Nigellus Black revealing the whereabouts of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Muggle-born Hermione Granger to Professor Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Without the Sword, Harry couldn’t have started destroying the Horcruxes that kept Voldemort alive. Without Phineas, Snape wouldn’t have been able to deliver the Sword. Thus, without Phineas, Voldemort wouldn’t have met his demise.

While there are many plot aspects in the Potter books that are much better than the films (the WORST change being: Harry snapping the Elder Wand in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 film rather than fixing his own broken wand with the Elder Wand in the final book), one of the key omissions was Phineas Nigellus Black.

Ludo Bagman in the “Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup” video game. The only visual adaptation of Bagman beyond the books.

I can forgive the massive omissions of Ludo Bagman and Winky the House Elf from the Goblet of Fire film. (Funnily enough, Bagman only appeared in the Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup video game from 2003, but this blog isn’t about him.) Sure, I can get over the lack of Lupin in the Deathly Hallows film adaptations as well. But one of the key characters that assists in the demise of Voldemort was completely left out of the film versions of the Potter series.

Getting to see Phineas Nigellus Black fleshed out as a living character in Hogwarts Legacy is a welcome bonus to what seems to be an amazing game. We finally get to experience a visual and interactive version of one of the more noble members of the Ancient House of Black.

We finally have a Potter character that can live beyond the page, long after the written series has finished.

~DS

My Top 5 Most Anticipated Games of 2023

2023 is filled to the brim with amazing video game releases, here are my most anticipated!

It feels like 2018 all over again.

The year that housed great video game releases like God of War, Red Dead Redemption II, Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marvel’s Spider-Man and more, was an absolutely unforgettable one!

I spent much of my time playing through all of these titles and unfortunately, some of them overlapped with the releases of the others. It seems in 2023, the best games of the year will be quite spaced out, but based on the sheer scale of each, I may not be completely finished with one by the time another comes out!

Either way, I will be playing A LOT of games in 2023. Here’s my Top 5 list of my most anticipated games for next year:

Honorable Mention: Final Fantasy XVI (6/22/23)

This game is set to bring back what makes the Final Fantasy series, well, a fantasy series.

Taking the live battle action that has revolutionized the series from Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy VII: Remake, FF16 looks like an incredible game, filled with legendary battles and an intense storyline about bloodlines, revenge, and claims to a throne.

Judging by the most recent trailer, this game is going to absolutely control my life this summer.

5.) Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (Winter 2023)

The only reason Final Fantasy XVI isn’t #5 is because there’s still a high chance that Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth releases in the Winter of 2023.

Following the epic release of Final Fantasy VII: Remake in 2020, this game follows Cloud and the gang along into the next step of their journey, beautifully remade from the 1997 classic for the PS1: Final Fantasy VII.

FF7Remake told solely the Midgar chapter of the 1997 original and FF7Rebirth will pick right back up with Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII after their escape from Midgar. However, as I discussed in this video from 2020, the ending of FF7Remake wasn’t exactly a 1-to-1 reboot of the original game; it was something completely different.

So, FF7Rebirth is set to be a nostalgic filled remake with even more twists and turns from the original that nobody can anticipate! Here’s to hoping it does release in 2023 and doesn’t get pushed into 2024!

4.) STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor (3/17/23)

The journey of Cal Kestis from 2019’s instant classic STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order resumes in 2023!

I just replayed Fallen Order to get back into the swing of things for Survivor and I must say, this new game can go down as one of the greatest, if not, the greatest Star Wars game ever.

There were some combat bugs and gameplay mechanics that I was reminded of in my replay of Fallen Order such as abilities not working or not being able to fast travel back to the ship that frustrated me. However, it looks like everything that was great about the original game is being improved upon and then some for the sequel!

With more story about Cal Kestis and the surviving Jedi following Order 66, I’m sure we’re bound to get interaction between Cal and some more characters from the Original Trilogy, or even Star Wars: Rebels in this game! Let’s just hope we can fast travel to the ship this time…

3.) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (5/12/23)

Being a sequel to one of the greatest games ever made is a daunting task. However, if there’s one game that can live up to the hype of its predecessor, I’m sure it will be The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Following the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017, hype for a sequel grew. As time went on, Breath of the Wild was recognized as the true flagship game for the Nintendo Switch.

Tears of the Kingdom is set to combine the timelines of the Zelda franchise and bring several of the series’ best storylines to the forefront with the series’ strongest entry as its base for gameplay.

Breath of the Wild is one of the few games I’ve ever played that I completed 100% of. All the Korok seeds, all the shrines, all the special armor, the Master Sword challenge, etc. I did ALL of it. I took my Switch with me everywhere and whether I grinded out several hours of discoveries or accomplished a quick shrine before my college classes, BOTW carved its way to being one of my favorite games of all-time.

I’m quite prepared to do all of this again, both throughout Hyrule and in the sky come May.

2.) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Fall 2023)

Ever since Insomniac’s announcement of Spider-Man 2 in 2021, gamers everywhere have patiently waited for more info on when the game will release.

In a recent PlayStation Blog, Sony and Insomniac guarantee the game’s release by Q3 of 2023, therefore, it makes my list for most anticipated games of next year!

Following Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020), this game will tag team the two Spider-Men together to face their greatest threat yet: Venom. Given all of the unlockable suits from the previous two games, including all of the movie iterations of Spider-Man’s suits, I’m beyond excited to see their black, Symbiote versions that are infected by Venom.

While I’m really bummed there haven’t been any trailers or gameplay reveals since the game’s announcement, I know full well that this game is going to be amazing….or even spectacular, or dare I say: the ultimate Spider-Man experience.

Just like Breath of the Wild above, I fully 100% completed both 2018’s Spider-Man and 2020’s Miles Morales with very little frustration. These games are both just so much fun to play and they’re the epitome of super hero games overall.

I just can’t wait to see how Insomniac improves upon games that already seemed absolutely perfect.

1.) Hogwarts Legacy (2/10/23)

Considering the fact that I already wrote a lengthy blog about this game, it should come as no surprise that my most anticipated game for 2023 is Portkey Games’ Hogwarts Legacy.

I have an intense fandom for video games, movies, comic books, super heroes, etc., and it all wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t grow up with Harry Potter. It has always been my favorite media franchise and it helped me grow into the person I am today.

Playing through the licensed games from Electronic Arts that coincided with the releases of the Potter films throughout my childhood, always made me want a game where I could create my own wizard and experience my own stories at Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Legacy is that game. I will get to create myself and explore not only Hogwarts, but the Wizarding World around the castle as well; encountering all the magical creatures, enemies, spells, and potions that made us all fall in love with the world of Harry Potter initially.

Beginning as a fifth year transfer student into Hogwarts, your created protagonist is thrown into the center of a mystery that could endanger not only the students of Hogwarts, but for all the witches and wizards in the Wizarding World. Equipped with a full arsenal of spells, potions, and magical creatures, it’s up to you to uncover this mystery and cement your legacy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

February 10th can’t come soon enough. If this game came out any later in the year, I think I would’ve spontaneously combusted.

~DS