It probably won’t happen, but we can dream. After the conclusion of the eighth and final Harry Potter film, the Wizarding World didn’t come to a standstill. We’ve been told that five (yes, five) Fantastic Beasts films are in the pipeline, giving us a dramatic and extensive prequel to the event of the mains series, while The Cursed Child also hit theaters, showing us the lives of the main trio’s children.
However, if a ninth film did arrive one day, whether set directly after the events of The Deathly Hallows or in a far distant future, we’ve listed five things that could realistically happen, and five that we really don’t think should.
COULD: Draco’s Redemption
The first five Harry Potter films showed Draco Malfoy as a force of pretty much pure evil. There wasn’t anything redeeming going on there, and he seemed to absolutely love causing chaos and anguish.
By film six, there was a level of fear buzzing around Draco, before the final entries into the franchise showed regret and eventually almost redemption. He left his life as a Death Eater and became relatively normal. This newfound nice Draco could be something important to a ninth film.
SHOULDN’T: Voldemort’s Resurrection
The problem every franchise faces is the death of a character. When someone particularly important or iconic dies, it create an incredibly dramatic conclusion that fans typically love. The issue comes when they want to carry on after, but they don’t have access to that character anymore. when Emperor Palpatine suddenly popped up in Episode IX of Star Wars?
Well, a ninth Harry Potter film would need to avoid that like the plague. Bringing back Voldemort would be unrealistic and a huge limiter on what the film could do.
COULD: A Look At Harry And Ron As Aurors
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley became Aurors soon after the end of the final film. Harry enjoyed a long and successful career, and was good at his job. As you might expect, Ron wasn’t so good and retired to help run Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.
It would be really interesting (and probably quite funny) to explore the dynamic between Ron and Harry as they embark on their missions.
SHOULDN’T: A Return To Hogwarts
Hogwarts is very cool, there is no denying that. A massive magical castle with moving staircases and talking pictures? It’s a filmmaker’s dream.
However, if a ninth film was to follow the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione, they wouldn’t have any business there. It would also just be too predictable to return to the castle. Having said that, if a ninth film did ever happen, you can bet your life that we’ll walk through those massive doors at some point.
COULD: A Look At Hermione As Minster For Magic
While Harry and Ron were embarking on careers in dark wizard catching, Hermione was working her way up through what was once a corrupt Ministry.
We wouldn’t want to focus on political debate or the complexities of a government job, of course, but it might be cool to see how Hermione got her position and what she did when she was there. I’m sure there was a lot of good done for Elvish welfare.
SHOULDN’T: A Focus On The Children
The one thing no one in the world cares about is Harry Potter’s children. They’ve got horribly cringy, unrealistic names and they should be about to embark on lives that are somewhat unremarkable. The characters we like and know and want to explore are those we’re already familiar with.
Where did Neville end up? What is Pansy Parkinson doing? We absolutely do not want a story that follows Albus Severus Lupin Tonks McGonagall James Hermione Fang Fawkes Petunia Potter around all day.
COULD: The Rise Of A New Strand Of Death Eaters
Until Palpatine was revealed to be controlling everything from behind the scenes, this is basically what the Star Wars sequels were all about. From the ruins of the Empire, the few who shared the same ideology rose up and created something sinister without then input of those who came before.
While avoiding having Voldemort come back in any form, the Death Eaters who defected or survived at the end of The Deathly Hallows may form some sort of splinter group, recruit the many dark wizards who remain and create a whole new threat.
SHOULDN’T: Crazy New Magic We’ve Never Heard Of
The problem with JK Rowling was her desire to introduce new, unheard of magic, people, and events as the storyline went on. It was necessary at times, yes, but the fact that some of it had never been mentioned before seems a little ridiculous.
For example, the Time-Turner. People in the Wizarding World could literally time travel, but it wasn’t mentioned until year three? And the thestrals. These crazy sometimes invisible beasts didn’t appear for five films, despite apparently taking the gang to Hogwarts every year. We need to avoid this.
COULD: More Hagrid
As the series went on, we got less and less Hagrid in our lives. The lovable half-giant was an instant source of kindness and humor that didn’t really exist from any other angle in the franchise.
As he has inherited the blood of his giantess mother, he can live for an extraordinarily long time, and as such, is very much still (as of 2020) the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. A ninth film should definitely show him reunite with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
SHOULDN’T: Time Travel
As mentioned above, the existence of the Time-Turner shouldn’t be possible. This is a device that quite literally allows people to travel through time, yet it’s hardly ever mentioned.
Why does it happen in Prisoner Of Azkaban and then never again? Then why does it suddenly reappear in The Cursed Child? This needs to be the one thing a potential ninth Harry Potter film avoids at all costs.
