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We all know that Harry Potter is a Warner Bros. franchise, but with Disney now owning the rights to many of the classic Potter films, is Harry Potter considered a Disney movie?
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Introduction
Since the release of the first Harry Potter movie in 2001, there has been much debate over whether or not the films are actually Disney movies. There are a few key factors that contribute to this debate. First, the Harry Potter movies are based on a book series written by British author J.K. Rowling, while Disney is an American company. Second, the Harry Potter movies were produced by Warner Bros., not Disney. And finally, the two franchises have very different tones and styles.
The Harry Potter Franchise
The Harry Potter franchise is a series of fantasy movies based on the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. The movies are distributed by Warner Bros., and the first movie was released in 2001.
Since then, there have been eight Harry Potter movies released, with the most recent one being released in 2011. The franchise has grossed over $7 billion at the box office, making it the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time.
However, despite its success, the Harry Potter franchise is not a Disney movie. This is because Warner Bros. owned the rights to the Harry Potter books before Walt Disney ever had a chance to buy them.
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California.
The Magic of Harry Potter
No, Harry Potter is not a Disney movie. The Harry Potter franchise is owned by Warner Bros. Studios, which is a subsidiary of AT&T. However, that doesn’t mean that Disney hasn’t had a hand in the success of the Harry Potter movies.
In fact, many of the people who worked on the Harry Potter movies also worked on Disney movies. For example, John Williams, who composed the music for the Harry Potter movies, also composed the music for some of the most popular Disney movies ever made, including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. In addition, many of the visual effects used in the Harry Potter movies were created by Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), which is a division of Lucasfilm Ltd., which itself is owned by Disney.
The Power of Disney
Disney is known for its expansive empire and its loyal following of die-hard fans. For many people, the word “Disney” conjures up images of happy characters, childhood nostalgia, and innocence. This is part of the reason why the release of the Harry Potter movies was such a controversial event – because it violated the image that many people had of Disney.
The Harry Potter movies are based on a book series that is beloved by millions of people around the world, and when the movies were first released, there was a lot of excitement from Potter fans who were eager to see their favorite characters come to life on the big screen. However, there was also a lot of backlash from people who felt that Disney was trying to cash in on the success of Harry Potter by releasing their own version of the story.
The debate about whether or not Harry Potter is a Disney movie is still ongoing, but there are some interesting points to consider on both sides. On one hand, it can be argued that the Harry Potter movies are simply too dark and violent to be associated with Disney. On the other hand, it could be argued that Disney’s influence can be seen in the overall tone of the movies, which are generally more light-hearted and family-friendly than the books.
At the end of the day, whether or not you consider Harry Potter to be a Disney movie is completely up to you. However, it is undeniable that Disney’s influence can be seen in many aspects of the films, from the overall tone to some of the specific character choices.
The Business of Harry Potter
Since its inception in 1997, the Harry Potter franchise has been a juggernaut in the entertainment industry. The books have sold over 500 million copies and have been translated into over 80 languages. The movies, produced by Warner Brothers, have grossed over $7 billion dollars at the box office.
So it’s no surprise that when Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, everyone wanted to know if Harry Potter would be next.
The short answer is no. While Warner Brothers does own the rights to the Harry Potter movies, they are not for sale. And even if they were, it’s unlikely that Disney would be willing to pay the price.
But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a connection between Harry Potter and Disney. In fact, there are quite a few.
The Future of Harry Potter
As Harry Potter fans rejoice over the opening of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, rumors are already swirling about the future of the beloved character. Could Harry Potter be headed to Disney?
The rumors began when a member of the Disney board of directors hinted that the company was interested in acquiring the rights to the character. While nothing has been confirmed, many fans are speculating that this could mean we could see a Harry Potter ride or attraction at a Disney park in the future.
Of course, there are no guarantees that this will happen, but it’s certainly an exciting possibility for Potter fans!
Conclusion
After looking at the evidence, it is clear that Harry Potter is not a Disney movie. While there are some similarities between the two, such as both being based on books and having movies with the same name, there are also many differences. For one, Harry Potter is owned by Warner Bros., not Disney. Additionally, the tone and style of the two franchises are quite different, with Harry Potter being darker and more serious overall. Finally, while Disney movies often have happy endings, Harry Potter does not always guarantee a happy ending for all of its characters.
Bibliography
-“Harry Potter.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Nov. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter.
-Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Scholastic Inc., 1999.
-Halliwell, David. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001).” IMDb, IMDb.com, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241527/.
Further Reading
Harry Potter is not a Disney movie, but that hasn’t stopped the two companies from partnering up in the past. In fact, Disney and Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling have a long history together.
The first Harry Potter book, “Philosopher’s Stone,” was published in 1997 by Scholastic. The following year, Disney bought the rights to the book with the intention of making it into a film. However, Rowling had some stipulations: she wanted to be involved in the creative process, she wanted the film to stay true to her vision, and she wanted British actors to play the parts.
Disney eventually decided not to make the film, feeling that they could not meet Rowling’s demands. Warner Bros. took over the project and released “Philosopher’s Stone” in 2001. The film was a massive success, grossing over $974 million at the box office worldwide.
In 2012, Universal Studios (which is owned by Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal) opened The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at their Orlando resort. The park features attractions based on Harry Potter’s world, including Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village.
In 2017, Rowling announced that there would be a new series of films set in the wizarding world, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The first film in the series was released by Warner Bros. in 2016 and grossed over $814 million at the box office worldwide.
