HBO's Harry Potter TV show has 'big problem' that could fundamentally ruin it

This Christmas, we're getting a TV series nobody really asked for in HBO's Harry Potter.

Adapted from JK Rowling's mega book franchise, which began with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997 and ended a decade later with The Deathly Hallows, the plan for this upcoming show is to turn each of the seven novels into its own full season.

Eclectic talents such as John Lithgow (Dexter), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones), Katherine Parkinson (Rivals), Paapa Essiedu (Gangs of London) and Paul Whitehouse (Gone Fishing) are taking a stab at long-established characters here, in a saga that's already been plundered for our cinematic entertainment in the last 25 years.

And that's where the problem lies with Potter on the small screen; fans already know what happens to Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley across their education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

In fact, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to say most people watch the film adaptations (released between 2001 and 2011) as an annual tradition.

Following the release of its first full trailer this week, impassioned lovers of the franchise are airing their qualms on social media.

One person wrote: "I think Harry Potter show will debut huge but it has a big problem which is that modern TV has only one trick: dangle a carrot in front of the audience and wait years to pay it off.

"We know how season one ends! We know how season two ends! We know how the series ends! No carrot!"

Responding to that particular tweet, another X user shared: "I honestly agree though I don't think they're making it for surprises. Rather, they're doing it to fulfil book accuracy, something Potterheads want."

Meanwhile, a third fan went on to argue how the films couldn't cover each literary storyline in its entirety, therefore the more roomy televisual format offers fresh opportunities.

"The main draw for the new series will be to see how they translated the books to a new live-action project. What did they keep? What did they rearrange? How did they reinterpret something the films did?"

John Lithgow is the new Professor Albus Dumbledore (HBO Max)

Harry Potter on HBO can represent the books more truthfully

As evidenced in a teaser recently posted on X, the divisive show can rewrite classic scenes with more authenticity.

One sequence in particular sees Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville Longbottom encountering Fluffy the mutant three-headed dog, which in the original Philosopher's Stone film unfolds without the trio's bumbling classmate.

Reacting to the TV show's version of this moment, one fan claimed: "People actually asking who is the fourth person is EXACTLY the reason why this remake is being done lol".

Let's see if HBO can really pull this one off.