Even Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) is shocked by the endurance of Harry Potter. The franchise began with the publication of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in September 1998. The book series ran until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released in July 2007. The movie franchise, meanwhile, began with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on November 16, 2001 and ended with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 on July 15, 2011.
Despite the mainline movies ending over a decade ago, Harry Potter and the Wizarding World has enjoyed enduring popularity. In an interview with US Weekly, Felton admitted that he never expected the franchise to remain so renowned after the movies ended. He can see why there is still such a large community, but he never thought that the Potter legacy would persist for so long. Check out his quote below:
Harry Potter has remained at the forefront of public consciousness for decades, and there are several reasons for its continued success. Because of the financial success of the franchise, which earned over $7.75 billion through the mainline movies alone, Warner Bros. elected to greenlight the Fantastic Beasts movies. While not nearly as successful, as it only earned approximately $1.8 billion across three movies, the franchise still ensured that the Wizarding World remained in theaters and on streaming platforms.
The upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot is another element that will continue to ensure the franchise’s survival. With a new TV show in development, the community continues to have content to anticipate. There has also been a lasting rumor that a Harry Potter & The Cursed Child movie could be on the way, though it currently remains designated for the stage, rather than the movie theater. With something always in development, there has not been room for the “Wizarding Worldfandom flame” to die.
So long as Harry Potter content remains in development, it is unlikely that the community will fade away. While Felton expected it to diminish, the Wizarding World always receives new content. Even setting aside the movies, books, and shows, there is an entire real-world Wizarding World amusement park Just as Star Trek and Star Wars have remained popular, as a result of new releases and audience engagement, Harry Potter has surprised Felton by its continued admiration and engagement.
Source: US Weekly