When I first encountered J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels and films, I won’t lie, I was simply captivated by the magical Wizarding World. A castle on the hill, moving staircase, magical creatures, delicious treacle tart—what more would a kid need? But gradually, as I grew up with the story, I started connecting with Snape’s complexities and began realizing why Sirius Black acted so irrationally at times.
That’s when I understood that Harry Potter isn’t just about Harry. It’s about all the characters who make that world so rich and alive. Each one has their own scars, dreams, and battles that shaped the bigger story we know so well. And honestly, the more I think about it, the more I believe these characters deserve their own stories, their own spin-offs, and their own chance to shine outside Harry’s shadow.
I’ve always felt that HBO missed a golden chance with Harry Potter. Instead of planning a TV reboot of the original movies, which are already close to perfect, they should have given us spin-offs about the characters we all love. I mean, the Wizarding World is full of fascinating characters who each have their own untold stories. From brave professors to misunderstood villains, everyone has so much depth.
So here’s a list of 10 iconic Harry Potter characters, whose stories deserve the spotlight.
The table contains details on the Harry Potter films:
1. Severus Snape
I might have a bit of a soft spot for Severus Snape, despite his passive-aggressive nature towards Harry and literally every other Hogwarts student. And that soft spot is rooted in his backstory. Like, this guy is THE most complicated character in the whole Harry Potter saga. He even tops Dumbledore in terms of layers in his character. Man is an onion!
At first, he looked like a straight-up villain in black, but as the truth came out, all of our jaws were literally left on the ground. That one chapter in the final book, where Harry takes a journey through Snape’s memory, was all to make us realize how this moody potions professor’s life was full of pain, sacrifice, and unrequited love.
From his traumatic childhood where he experienced child abuse and parental neglect, to his days at Hogwarts where he was bullied by the Marauders, everything deserves a spotlight. Even his one-sided love for Lily, his time as a Death Eater, and finally his role as a double agent for Dumbledore and Voldemort, need acknowledgement.
Snape’s life was riddled with tragedy, betrayal, and unspoken loyalty. So I know a series about this man would be heartbreaking but also so powerful.
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2. Neville Longbottom
Oh my poor sweet Neville. Like if there’s any character in Harry Potter who’s absolutely pure (of course after Luna Lovegood) then it’s Neville Longbottom. This sweetheart suffered since his birth and yet had one of the most inspiring journeys and character development in the magical saga.
Born to Alice and Frank Longbottom, who suffered a worse fate than death, under Bellatrix Lestrange’s Cruciatis Curse, Neville never experienced parental love. That led him to start out as a shy, clumsy boy, forgetting things and struggling with magic. So much so that his grandma was worried he would be a squib.
In fact, considering how Neville was a late bloomer in the family, he had to undergo harsh tests. Like when his great-uncle, Algie dropped him out a window to see if he would exhibit magical qualities, out of sheer survival instinct. So, all of these stories, considering how they shaped his character, deserve screentime.
Plus, I’d also love to see that St. Mungo’s chapter being brought to life, where he visits his parents every day, even though they don’t recognize him. Neville’s story is proof that even the underdog can rise and shine, and I believe he deserves his own spinoff.
3. Remus Lupin
Singularly, outside of the Marauders, if someone had an interesting backstory, then that’s Remus Lupin. Yeah, I know Sirius Black was the rebellious bad boy of Hogwarts, but Lupin had more depth to his story than Sirius, who spent the majority of his life locked up in Azkaban. So, for me, Lupin has always been the underdog.
He was kind, gentle, and wise, but his life was marked by so much pain because of lycanthropy. Lupin was literally attacked and bitten by the notorious werewolf Fenrir Greyback when he was a child, just before his fifth birthday. And this attack had nothing to do with Remus. Instead, it was Greyback’s revenge against Remus’s father, Lyall Lupin.
Because Lyall insulted werewolves, Fenrir attacked Remus, changing his life forever, and forcing him into isolation during his monthly transformations. So, undoubtedly, a spin-off could show Remus’ struggles growing up, the discrimination he faced, and how he managed to still become a great teacher and fighter.
Plus, I’d kill to see his love story with Nymphadora Tonks, who despite being a lot younger than Lupin convinced him into marriage and having a son. Remus Lupin’s story is both tragic and hopeful, and I think it would make such a moving spinoff of its own.
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4. Albus Dumbledore
It’s impossible for me to speak about the world of Harry Potter and not address the man who left us with so much wisdom and some of the greatest quotes. Albus Dumbledore, that iconic yet complex character who always seemed to know everything, but we still don’t know him fully. At least not in the movies.
While the books offered tidbits about his life—his young years with Grindelwald, his father’s attack on the Muggle kids, his sister being an Obscurial, his mother’s death, followed by his sister’s demise, and fallout with his brother—the films skipped it all. So, I think, a spin-off about young Dumbledore would be fascinating.
His complicated relationship with his brother Aberforth, the tragic story of his family, and his complex bond with Grindelwald are all such important parts of his character. We only got to see a bit of his relationship with Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts movies. But even that got shelved. So now, I think we need a spinoff to know how he became the wise headmaster we know.
Because honestly, Dumbledore’s life feels like an epic story all on its own, filled with ambition, guilt, and lessons about power and love.
5. Luna Lovegood
Like I said earlier, there’s no purer soul in the Harry Potter saga than Luna Lovegood. This girl is a breath of fresh air. I wanna achieve the level of calm composure that she has. Luna literally got kidnapped by the Death Eaters in Deathly Hallows, and yet, she appeared serene, offering comfort and support to fellow prisoners like Mr. Ollivander.
I could never stay as calm as Luna under such a traumatizing ordeal. I would panic, ugly cry, and even try to bribe my way out. So yes, I wanna know more about her, because while she appeared dreamy, quirky, and always true to herself, there’s so much more to her than meets the eye. I’d love a spin-off that explores her childhood.
I wanna see her relationship with her mother, her bonding with her father, and how she dealt with losing her mother at such a young age. Luna’s perspective on the world is so different from everyone else’s, and I think it would make a magical, heartfelt series. Plus, we could follow her adventures after Hogwarts, when she became a magizoologist exploring magical creatures. That would be enchanting!
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6. Myrtle Warren
Readers know who I’m talking about, and moviegoers might have a hint. Yes, this is Moaning Myrtle, who’s actually known as Myrtle Warren, the third or fourth-year Ravenclaw student, who died in 1943 at Hogwarts, when the Chamber of Secrets was opened for the first time. But sadly, we only got to see Myrtle as a ghost who haunted the girls’ bathrooms.
The movies skipped her whole tragic story before that. Readers will know how Myrtle was initially bullied, suffered from loneliness, and was eventually killed by the Basilisk, which turned her into the ghost we know. So, a spin-off could show her school years, her insecurities, and her interactions with Tom Riddle before she died.
Her perspective could give us a darker, sadder view of life at Hogwarts, and reveal how not everyone was blessed with good friends like Harry. Honestly speaking, I found Myrtle’s story rather heartbreaking. And I think, in today’s world, Myrtle’s story about bullying and how isolation affects people would resonate better. She deserves her spotlight.
7. The Marauders
I think Potterheads’ manifestation will finally come true if someday HBO or even Warner Bros. decides to do a film/show on the four Hogwarts heartthrobs—Padfoot, Prongs, Moony, and Wormtail. Because if there’s one spin-off fans have begged for, it’s the Marauders. Fans like me are literally dying to learn about James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
Because honestly, they were the coolest and most interesting friends’ group in the series. And considering how we all grew up with Harry’s generation, seeking a Marauders’ spinoff is the magical parallel of literally obsessing over our parents’ generation. After all, the Marauders’ time at Hogwarts was full of adventures, but also betrayal and tragedy.
Like, I can’t wait to see their pranks, their Animagus transformations, and the creation of the Marauder’s Map. Not to mention, they also had their dark side, where they bullied Snape for no reason at all. But their story feels more real because of that honest balance between good and bad. That’s what makes their growth and sacrifice feel so deep.
So, I want a spinoff where we would not only get to see their Hogwarts years but also Peter’s betrayal, James and Lily’s deaths, Sirius’s imprisonment, and everything. A Marauders spin-off would be funny, emotional, and heartbreaking all at once. Honestly, it’s the one I want the most.
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8. The Gaunts
I still have no explanation as to why Warner Bros. thought it was okay to skip the backstory on the Gaunts. Like, that’s where the story’s villain comes from. So why would you skip that chapter? The Gaunts don’t get any screentime whatsoever, despite having a chilling and traumatic backstory.
There’s so much to show. Like this family carried Salazar Slytherin’s bloodline, yet, instead of being powerful and respected, they lived in poverty and madness, cursed by their obsession with “pure blood”. But that’s not all, this is where Voldemort’s mother, Merope, belonged. This is the family that treated her like a slave.
Devoid of love, Merope bewitched a Muggle, just to feel affection, which resulted in the birth of Lord Voldemort. Then, there’s her brother Morfin, who wasn’t as cruel as Marvolo Gaunt (the family patriarch), but played a significant role in the story. He was framed by Voldemort for the murder of Tom Riddle (the Muggle man bewitched by Merope).
So, I believe a spin-off about the Gaunts would not only give us a deeper look into the pure-blood family, but also explain how Voldemort’s twisted nature was indirectly shaped by his family. It would be dark, disturbing, but also really fascinating. Honestly, understanding the Gaunts could show us that Voldemort wasn’t just born evil; he was the result of generations of hate and brokenness.
9. Hogwarts Founders
I can’t stress enough how desperately I want HBO and Warner Bros. to do justice to the four Hogwarts founders. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw are the legends in the Harry Potter world. Each of them contributed significantly to the school of witchcraft and wizardry.
But thanks to Hermione, we only know bits and pieces about them. Yes, readers do know a bit in detail about each of the characters and their influence and impact, but moviegoers are completely unaware. So, I believe a spin-off could finally show how they came together to build Hogwarts and how they shaped their houses.
We would also learn about what led to the falling out between Gryffindor and Slytherin, because who doesn’t like drama? Like literally, I’d love to see their struggles, friendships, and the early days of the school that became so important in Harry’s story. Their story would serve as the origin of the entire Wizarding World.
And honestly, it deserves to be told in all its magical glory.
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10. The Black Sisters
Don’t come at me for just choosing the Black sisters. Because if I didn’t have to pick and choose, I’d have voted for the entire Black family to have their own royal spinoff. But agree with me or not, the three sisters, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, and Andromeda Tonks, remain the most fascinating characters in the family.
Each, coming from the same powerful family, paved their own path in the Wizarding World, which couldn’t be more different. Bellatrix went all-in with Voldemort and married one of the most sadistic Death Eaters, Rudolphus Lestrange. Meanwhile, Narcissa stayed loyal to her family and married pure-blood wizard Lucius Malfoy.
But it was just Andromeda who broke away completely to live her own life. She married Muggle-born wizard Ted Tonks and suffered a tragic fate, abandoned by her own family. So after all this, who wouldn’t want to know more about them? At least I do. I want a dramatic spin-off about the Black sisters, that’s intense, and full of choices about loyalty, love, and identity.
Their story could show us how one family produced such different women, each shaping the Wizarding World in their own way. Honestly, I think this would be one of the most gripping spin-offs ever made.
Share your opinion on which other Harry Potter character deserves their own spinoff.
Harry Potter films are currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.