HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot is being framed as a clean restart — one book per season, a new cast, and a decade-long commitment to retelling the core story. But the reset raises a larger question: what happens to the rest of the wizarding world, particularly the divisive Fantastic Beasts films that Warner Bros. shelved a few years ago?
The original prequel trilogy, led by Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Jude Law as a younger Albus Dumbledore, struggled to maintain momentum after its 2016 debut with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Subsequent installments saw diminishing box-office returns and mixed fan reception, leaving the planned five-film arc unfinished.
With the new HBO Harry Potter series starting from scratch, there’s room to selectively incorporate elements from those films — without being bound by them.
Since the series promises a more faithful adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s novels, its primary focus will remain Harry’s story. However, integrating aspects of the Fantastic Beasts era — perhaps through flashbacks, historical references, or even brief appearances — could give the show texture while differentiating it from the previous eight-film run.
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That approach would also open the door for strategic cameos. An older iteration of a Fantastic Beasts character, or even a reimagined version of one, could bridge eras without locking the show into the earlier films’ continuity. It would allow Warner Bros. to preserve useful world-building while sidestepping storylines that failed to resonate.
Meanwhile, the HBO series is also expected to share its timeline with the open-world video game Hogwarts Legacy. In November 2024, Variety reported that the game's upcoming sequel will share elements of its plot with the HBO series. David Haddad, president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, said that the game's team had been coordinating some of the big-picture storytelling elements with storylines expected to feature in the reboot.
However, folding in select Fantastic Beasts elements as well could further establish this series as its own interpretation — not just a remake, but a consolidation of the broader mythology under one cohesive banner.
If HBO is serious about a long-term wizarding strategy, leaving that corner untouched may not be the most strategic move.
Would you like the Harry Potter reboot and Hogwarts Legacy to share the same timeline? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!
