As we all know, everything began with a Harry Potter book, which eventually became an epic tale of seven parts. In between, the series morphed into other formats, being the film format the most successful representative of this. But it did not stop there: merchandising of all kinds, theme parks, and now a new original film (not an adaptation, like the others) is on its way.
Remember when they presented Pottermore? It was described as an interactive reading of the books. Leaving aside the technical aspect, the idea was to review the history of Harry Potter but this time finding new texts by J.K. Rowling through interacting with certain objects. Pottermore was a pioneer in telling a story (or several small stories) in which the reader must discover on their own, in a kind of virtual game.
And finally, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the play. Thus, the Wizarding World expands and takes up books, films (both adaptations and original), plays and even interactive reading, with the old Pottermore.
So, let’s suppose once and for all we get the history of The Marauders. Finally we will know the adventures of James, Sirius, Remus and Peter! What then would be an original and innovative format for this new story?
In 2015, the Serial podcast became an online phenomenon. It is one of the first podcast to become popular by telling a compelling story. And it showed that the format works. Serial has a narrator, which is mixed with interviews and statements from the characters in the narrative, allowing us to hear them directly.
Imagine that with The Marauders (we’re already dreaming). A weekly episode, where we listen to James, Sirius, Remus and Peter talk to each other, their conversations, their adventures. It does not take much production: just a couple of actors and a recording studio.
And the best thing would be, almost like the book, that this time we are alone with our imagination. The plot is only accompanied by the voices and the emotions that actors can imprint on them, and the occasional sound effect. But we imagine the rest: the faces, the scenarios, the magic. And that’s one of the great points of the Harry Potter world: feeding our imagination.
It could be The Marauderers, or maybe Dumbledore as young wizard, or any other story. But we are convinced that the podcast format would work great. It would be a step beyond an audiobook, but with actors for each character and sound effects, leaving enough room for the consumer’s imagination.
At the end of the day, it is one of the few formats that Harry Potter still has not submerged in. What do you think? Would you stay in your room, in the dark, listening to their own voices of James and Sirius about his latest mischief? Or would you prefer to listen to the words that were said between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, before their most important duel?
