Harry Potter Spin-Offs to Replace the New TV Series

The new Harry Potter television series, starring Dominic McLaughlin

With the new Harry Potter television series premiering this Christmas, the world is eager to return to a Wizarding World that promises scenes and elements accurate to (and expanded far beyond) the books.

Fans are excited to finally see faces missing from the original films, from Peeves, the devious Hogwarts poltergeist, to the Great Lake’s Giant Squid. There is even anticipation for new additions, such as Perenelle Flamel appearing in entirely original scenes.

However, with the excited fans come the disagreed ones, and many fans worldwide wish to see something other than a reboot of an irreplaceable series. The Wizarding World is unimaginably vast, and many major, under-explored historical plots could easily capture the public’s interest.

The Marauders

The Marauders in their school years, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Marauders, a quartet of Gryffindors, were deeply impactful to the original series: James Potter, Harry’s father; Sirius Black, the escaped prisoner at the heart of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Remus Lupin, a professor and — most unfortunately for him — a werewolf; and Peter Pettigrew, the traitor who facilitated Lord Voldemort’s return.

Throughout the books, we catch glimpses of their complex pasts, such as Remus’s tragic transformation and Sirius’s troubled history with his ancient and noble family. Their seven years at Hogwarts were filled with defining moments: bullying their Slytherin classmate Severus Snape, becoming Animagi, attempting to escape the Hogwarts Express, creating the Marauder’s Map, the planting of the Whomping Willow, and James’s romantic pursuit of Lily Evans.

There is surely more to those seven years than what a few paragraphs get to cover. These characters and these stories have enough depth for an entire spinoff, and we can all agree it would be amazing to finally see their stories unfold on-screen.

Founders of Hogwarts

Godric’Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin (left to right)

Dating back 1000 years before the events of the series, four powerful witches and wizards — the brave Godric Gryffindor, the kind Helga Hufflepuff, the intelligent Rowena Ravenclaw, and the cunning Salazar Slytherin — founded Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, establishing four houses for students who mirrored their own personalities.

Their legacies are central to the books: Godric’s disputes with goblinkind, Salazar’s Chamber of Secrets (the core of the second book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets itself), the theft of Rowena’s diadem by her own daughter, and beyond. However, in their long lifetimes, there must be so much more to explore.

A spinoff could delve into the creation of their most famous possessions — three of which eventually became Voldemort’s Horcruxes — the origins of the house mascots. Why a lion? Why a badger? Perhaps Rowena Ravenclaw even had an eagle companion of her own. This is a concept with the potential to keep the entire fanbase hooked.

Lord Voldemort’s Origins

Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The transformation of Tom Marvolo Riddle into the most feared Dark Wizard of all time is one of the franchise’s most significant lores. Growing up in a Muggle orphanage, Tom’s ambition as the Heir of Slytherin fueled a lifelong obsession with blood purity and immortality. His journey from a brilliant, handsome student to the physically inhumane Lord Voldemort is well-known, but fans are eager to discover what occurred during the ten missing years in between.

Imagine getting to see him gathering the first Death Eaters and delving into the Dark Arts across the globe. Encountering Nagini, the vicious snake whose tragic origins as a Maledictus were revealed in the Fantastic Beasts series. We are all intrigued to see how a gifted prefect finally shed his humanity to become a monster.

First Wizarding War

Following the Dark Lord’s origins, the next logical step is the First Wizarding War. Spanning more than a decade, the plot revolving around this era is incredibly complex, covering eleven years of history. It could delve into the original Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic’s desperate operations, and the daily lives of those in the wizarding world during such a dark time.

The three sisters of the House of Black: Narcissa, Bellatrix, and Andromeda (left to right)

Moreover, the lore could potentially include the backstories of many iconic characters, such as the three Black sisters: Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Andromeda. Their storylines begin entwined but grow further apart as the war progresses. We could also see the life of Sirius’s brother, Regulus Black, exploring his initial passion for joining the Dark Lord and his eventual sacrifice to take him down.

The spinoff could begin with the outbreak of the conflict as Tom Riddle re-emerges as Lord Voldemort to cause havoc. By focusing on both sides , the Death Eaters’ plans and backstories versus the Order of the Phoenix featuring Dumbledore, the Marauders, and more, the series could culminate in Voldemort’s first defeat in 1981.

McGonagall’s Love Life

Who doesn’t love a romance story? It might take people by surprise to realize that the stern, typically inexpressive Professor McGonagall had quite a dramatic love life in her youth.

After graduating, Minerva fell deeply in love with a local Muggle, Dougal McGregor, but ultimately rejected his marriage proposal to protect her career. She remained heartbroken for years, and Dougal eventually married someone else. Later, she repeatedly declined proposals from her former Ministry boss, Elphinstone Urquart, before finally agreeing to marry him. However, their happy marriage was tragically short-lived, ending after only three years when Elphinstone passed away.

Such a poignant, romantic history for a young McGonagall would undeniably make for at least a compelling two-hour film that fans would find hard to resist.

‘The Rookie’ With a Twist

The Rookie (Season 7), an American police procedural television series

Moving beyond the Harry Potter series, there is so much potential in exploring the wider Wizarding World.

The Ministry of Magic’s Auror Office is a hub of daily activity, dealing with a variety of crimes that keep these officers in a state of constant unrest. From Auror Thistlewood stopping a dragon from terrorizing a Muggle city to the illicit breeding of magical creatures and the Muggle-baiting crimes of Willie Widdershins, it is a shame these events have never been depicted on-screen.

One compelling concept would be a wizarding version of The Rookie , a procedural series where police officers solve different cases and assist different people in each episode. Swapping a standard police station for the Auror Office to handle magical crimes and dark wizardry would be a thrilling twist on the genre, and it would undoubtedly be a captivating watch.

Quidditch!

Imagine this: as a sports fan, you are watching a match on television, BUT! The field has three rings on each side, the players are mounted on broomsticks, and instead of a football, your eyes are glued to the Quaffle!

With today’s CGI, this is entirely possible. There would be no complex plot, no heroes, and no villains — just pure sport.

You’d find yourself cheering at the screen, desperately hoping the Seeker for the Chudley Cannons catches the Golden Snitch to pull off an upset against the Holyhead Harpies. It would be an immersive experience that brings the magic of the pitch to life.

Other Wizarding Schools

The eleven wizarding schools, marked on a world map

There are eleven major wizarding schools worldwide, and Hogwarts is only the beginning. It would be a breathtaking experience to witness the elegance of the halls of Beauxbatons, how students endure the biting cold at Durmstrang, or the unique Sorting ceremony at Ilvermorny. Imagine seeing Koldovstoretz students flying on uprooted trees instead of broomsticks, or the magnificent giant storm petrels of Mahoutokoro taking flight.

A spinoff could delve into the lives of established characters, such as Fleur Delacour at Beauxbatons, the Flamels centuries ago, or Viktor Krum during his time at Durmstrang. Alternatively, the series could introduce entirely new protagonists to lead us through these unexplored territories. We are all deeply curious about what lies behind the walls of the world’s other magical institutions.

A Wordless Series

You might wonder how a series could be wordless, but it is entirely possible. While the lives of beloved characters are always endearing, it is important to remember that these characters aren’t always human.

A spinoff could explore the origins of fan-favorite creatures: Hedwig’s life before Eeylops Owl Emporium, Trevor’s journey before Neville or after his escape into the Great Lake (or both!), the debated origins of Crookshanks, and Fawkes’s many lives as a wild phoenix.

Flow (2024), an award-winning wordless animation movie

Each episode could cover each beloved creatures and, like the successful 2024 film Flow, remain completely wordless. Since animals obviously don’t speak human tongues, focusing on their perspectives without dialogue would be a unique and moving way to expand the lore.

Famous Witches and Wizards

The Harry Potter series is far from the only captivating story in this universe; many minor witches and wizards throughout history could generate incredible interest in the franchise.

Consider the life of Herpo the Foul, his dark discovery of the first Horcrux, and the breeding of the first Basilisk — is it possible he is still alive? Then there are the centuries-spanning lives of Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel, from their school days to their immortal adulthood.

Celestina Warbeck, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For a lighter tone, Tilly Toke’s family vacation to Ilfracombe would make for a charming family film, while the tragic tale of Mirabella Plunkett, who fell in love with a merman and vanished into the lake, could offer a hopeless romatic tone. From the wild story of Violet Tilliyman to the rise of the Weird Sisters or the glittering career of the wizarding superstar Celestina Warbeck, the possibilities are endless.

There is so much more to explore beyond the Boy Who Lived.

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