By Warner Bros. sure loves its film franchises doesn’t it? After all, when you own the rights to some of the largest film properties, it only makes sense that they’d want to milk that cash cow for as long as possible.
After Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, we all thought the Harry Potter film series was done and over with. Then came the official word that the spin-off book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them would be turned into a trilogy (complete with J.K. Rowling herself in charge of the screenplays). There’s no word on how successful that film will be (if we’re being honest, it will probably make quite a Galleon), but there are very loose rumors that the Brothers Warner are prepared to adapt the recently released book (and successful stage play) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child into a film trilogy.
More importantly, WB wants to set a 2020 release date and have Daniel Radcliffe return to the lead role of Harry Potter. While Radcliffe is busy farting along to Hollywood success, he isn’t exactly dismayed by the thought of returning to the wizarding world as indicated by an interview conducted earlier this summer:
It would depend on the script. The circumstances would have to be pretty extraordinary. But then I am sure Harrison Ford said that with Han Solo and look what happened there! So I am saying ‘no’ for now, but leaving room to backtrack in the future.
I haven’t read Cursed Child nor seen the play yet, but it sounds like Warner Bros. is trying to milk a bit too much out of this a la The Hobbit. I love Harry Potter, but the thought of the studio ruining yet another popular franchise leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I’m not talking about Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.
[via /Film]