He’s The Boy Who Lived, but also the boy most people have at least heard of. Harry Potter is a global sensation and has been now for just over twenty years. But will the boy with the lightening bolt scar remain so?
A Quick Recap
The Harry Potter franchise is an extensive one. I could make this section quite long but I won’t so we can get into our discussion question for today. In order to refresh us on the major events of the franchise in the last twenty years you can check out this little timeline I’ve put together.
You might notice, I’ve mostly focused on the book releases with a few of the other notable items thrown in. There are lot of things I haven’t included, such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park and the Warner Bros Studio Tours which began operating shortly after filming wrapped up.
The purpose of this is to demonstrate that for the last twenty years, Harry Potter has dominated in terms of its global reach and fan base. But with the books and films wrapped up, will this high last for The Boy Who Lived?
Still Going Strong
That’s not to say there’s not Wizarding World content still being produced.
The Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them films have been reasonably successful. The latest instalment is due to be released in Spring of 2021.
The Harry Potter and The Cursed Child play is still being performed in London, New York and Melbourne with most sessions selling out months in advance.
Harry Potter merchandise both offical and fan made seems to be as popular as ever and you can get your hands on pretty much anything Harry Potter themed online. Bedspread? Done. Toothbrush? Done. Lifesize cut out of the cast? Done. (I do not have any of those things, but I have seen them advertised.)
Bloomsbury has begun celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the series with the release of illustrated editions of each of the Harry Potter novels. (They’re beautiful, and I confess, I have begun collecting these.)
So it definitely seems as though the franchise is going strong with companies still busting out products to meet the demand from fans. People really care about this series.
The question then is, why do so many people care about Harry Potter?
Why do people care about Harry Potter?
Like many series that have endured the test of time (think Narnia, and The Lord of The Rings) Harry Potter has themes that many can relate to.
The series provides escapism, for the outcasts, for people who feel like they don’t belong or are lonely. As a child reading this series that was something I related to. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to escape mediocrity and go to a wizarding school and have lots of adventures? I certainly thought so.
Hogwarts is a home for Harry, and I’ve heard many fans describe the series as that for them. They identify Hogwarts as a place where they would be comfortable. Welcomed.
I think there’s more to people’s appreciation of the series than that. The series explores deeper issues such as grief, good, evil, love, sacrifice and destiny. It makes uncanny observations about people and the way we interact with one another in the world.
I mentioned Narnia, and The Lord of The Rings at the start of this section because I think these two book series also explore these hard topics. Personally, I think it is the discussion of topics not often talked about and the adventurous wrapping its presented in that has helped them to endure. Harry Potter has those same qualities.
So, will the Harry Potter Hype Go Away?
I don’t think so. I think the series has a substance to it, a depth that children and adults alike can relate to. Perhaps that’s why the world has struggled to let go, and stop producing content relating to the Wizarding World. Because they want it and need it still.
Perhaps that’s an overly romantic view of the franchise. Maybe it’s actually because it makes Warner Bros, Bloomsbury, JK Rowling and a host of other people money.
But I don’t think so. Because there’s a demand from the fans, which they’re meeting. The demand is there because its loved.
Final Thoughts
Apologies if you’re not a Harry Potter Fan, but I think you’ll need to put up with the Harry Potter fans a little longer.
The Mister and I went to see Harry Potter and The Cursed Child a few months ago. Wow. If you have the opportunity to see it, do. It was wonderful. No spoilers #keepthesecrets but I feel very lucky to have seen the show.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, tell me what Hogwarts house you’re in by commenting on this post! Or if you don’t know what house you’d be in head here to find out.
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Steph Huddleston 
Great post! I agree with you that the Harry Potter hype will not disappear anytime soon. It is a very heart-warming, adventurous story full of magic – how can it possibly be replaced? I actually believe that HP will grow even more in popularity because the older generation is not picking the book up because of the age and more people are being born daily who become instant fans before they even know how to read (dress up as HP, etc.) – so that means even more HP fans in future!
As for my Hogwarts house, since you ask…I want to believe I am in Gryffindor, but, of course, I was officially put into Hufflepuff on the main HP website heh 🙂
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Hi Diana, thanks for reading and commenting! You make a great point, the Harry Potter franchise is one that is likely to attract new fans over time. In the same way that Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and many other franchises have done. It’s lovely to see how some stories transcend generations.
I always thought I was a Gryffindor too haha! Oh well, Hufflepuff is lucky to have us!
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