As Albus Dumbledore once said, “It does not do well to dwell on dreams…”. However, for many Harry Potter fans, the dream of a reboot of the beloved film franchise is one that they just can’t shake. Since the conclusion of the eight-movie series in 2011, speculation about a potential return to the wizarding world has been a hot topic of discussion. And really, who could blame them?
Despite the original cast members’ mixed feelings about a possible reprisal of their roles, with Daniel Radcliffe stating that it would be off-key for him to rejoin the spin and Emma Watson having reservations due to more profound issues, anticipation is still high. Indeed, even Matthew Lewis, known for his portrayal of Neville Longbottom, recently admitted he is unsure if he’s ready for more.
Matthew Lewis’ Stance On Returning To The Harry Potter Franchise
Would revisiting the past diminish its sparkle? Stated differently, would resuming the previous role lessen its initial impact? For Matthew Lewis, the cherished actor behind the beloved Neville Longbottom, the prospect of using a Time Turner to return to his Hogwarts days isn’t quite as ravishing as one might think.
In a candid talk with PEOPLE, Lewis, now 34 and a veteran of the $9.5 billion-worth franchise (The Numbers), expressed a lackadaisical stance towards the upcoming reboot television series planned for HBO Max:
It’s not something I’m looking at or want to do but would not turn my nose up at. I’d be very interested to see if it was Neville as an adult — a whole different vibe. That could be interesting. I would certainly look at that and consider it.
At least, while not entirely closing the door on the idea—with a particular curiosity in exploring an “adult” Neville’s narrative—Lewis insightfully articulated his love for novelty as well as transformation. He explained:
The reason I got into this job in the first place was because I have a very short attention span. I am very, very poor at maintaining anything for any length of time. I’ve had many, many hobbies and passions over the years. Not a single one do I still do. I fall madly in love with things and then almost immediately forget about them.
Warner Bros. is presently projecting a 2026 premiere for the Harry Potter television series on Max. Although no casting information has been made public, Lewis is not the only original cast member who does not intend to return.
Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson’s Reluctance To Join Harry Potter
Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular role of Harry Potter, and Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger, have also voiced their reluctance to return to the franchise. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Radcliffe stated, “I certainly haven’t”, when asked if he had any discussions about joining the series. The former franchise star explained:
I think it’s very much like they’re going for a new series. There would be somebody else playing Harry. So I think it would be very weird for me to show up.
Meanwhile, Watson’s dithering is reportedly due to J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments. Jeff Sneider made a surprising revelation in his The Hot Mic podcast, claiming that Watson is the most reluctant of the original cast members to return:
I heard that there had been talking of a Cursed Child movie. But there were problems, they didn’t want to work with J.K. Rowling for obvious reasons. Then it was particularly hard to get Emma and Dan back, particularly Emma. Emma is the toughest one to get back into this, particularly with everything that J.K. Rowling has said and stands for.
With the potential obstacles facing a Harry Potter reboot and the reluctance of key cast members to return, Warner Bros. may have to reconsider its approach to continuing the iconic franchise.
As the studio navigates the complexities of bringing back the original cast while also appealing to a new generation of fans, the future of the wizarding world remains unknowable. Only time will tell if a reboot will bring the cherished series back to life or if the magic will wear off.
Stream Harry Potter on Max.
