With the upcoming Harry Potter HBO remake currently in development, many Harry Potter fans have looked back on the novels to see what scenes the successful film franchise left out of their adaptation that HBO can include. Given how much material there is in the books, it is remarkable how well the films were able to bring so much of the page to the screen, but there were still a lot of big moments excluded.

There are several huge moments throughout the seven-book series that didn’t make it on screen, such as the St. Mungo’s Hospital scenes and the entire House-elf subplot, but these were understandably left out of the films due to the constraints of a feature-length runtime. However, there are several important moments in the books that very easily could’ve been included without stretching out the runtime that should’ve been adapted.

Harry and Dudley’s Goodbye

This Scene Was Filmed for the Film Adaptation, but Cut From the Final Version

There’s a lot about the Dursley family that didn’t make it into the film adaptations. The cruel Muggle family that raised and tormented Harry Potter was featured heavily in the first two films, but as the books became more dense, the Dursleys’ roles in the adaptations became more limited, not even appearing at all in the adaptations of Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince.

“I don’t think you’re a waste of space.”

If Harry had not seen Dudley’s lips move, he might not have believed it. As it was, he stared at Dudley for several seconds before accepting that it must have been his cousin who had spoken for one thing. Dudley had turned red. Harry was embarrassed and astonished himself.

“Well . . . er . . . thanks, Dudley.”

Again, Dudley appeared to grapple with thoughts too unwieldy for expression before mumbling, “You saved my life.”

– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 3

However, one scene from the novels that certainly should have been included was the goodbye scene between Harry and his cousin, Dudley. This scene is incredibly moving, and shows that Dudley was capable of growing past the attitude of his family. This scene would have been very easy to include, especially as it was filmed for Deathly Hallows Part I, but was cut from the theatrical version of the film.

Viktor Krum’s Return in Deathly Hallows

This Reunion Scene Was Filmed but Never Released

Fans of the Harry Potter films will remember Viktor Krum as the Durmstrang Triwizard champion and seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch team that appeared in Goblet of Fire. Book fans, however, will remember that Krum appeared later on in the series. In the novels, Krum’s character returns at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour.

This was a great scene for fans, as the character hadn’t been seen since his debut in the fourth book. It also helped to show how much Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger’s relationship had grown since Goblet of Fire. This scene was also filmed for Deathly Hallows Part I, but was cut from the final version of the film, with the scene even being excluded from the release of deleted scenes.

Harry Seeing Luna Lovegood’s Bedroom Was Cut From the Film

This Book Scene Highlighted Luna’s Love for Her Friends

One character that almost perfectly adapted from page to screen was Luna Lovegood. Evanna Lynch perfectly portrayed the quirky character in a way that was both odd and charming at the same time, just as Luna was portrayed in the books. However, one big moment surrounding Luna was omitted from the film adaptation.

Luna had decorated her bedroom ceiling with five beautifully painted faces: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville.

What appeared to be fine golden chains wove around the pictures, linking them together, but after examining them for a minute or so, Harry realized that the chains were actually one word, repeated a thousand times in golden ink: friends … friends … friends …

– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21

Related

10 Ravenclaws That Deserve More Attention in the Harry Potter Remake, Ranked

The upcoming Harry Potter series promises an exciting retelling that includes new narratives. But could this also benefit some forgotten Ravenclaws?

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione visit the Lovegood home in Deathly Hallows, Harry goes up to Luna’s empty bedroom, finding a painting of him, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville on the ceiling with the word “friends.” It would have been very easy for the film adaptation to include this quick scene during the Lovegood home sequence, and it would have perfectly highlighted what makes Luna such a great character, and emphasized the theme of friendship in the series.

Snape’s Potions Riddle Wasn’t Included in the Film

This Book Scene Should Have Been Included in The Sorcerer’s Stone

The film adaptation of Sorcerer’s Stone was an almost perfect adaptation, leaving very few plot moments from the book out of the film. While fans wish cut moments like the Midnight Duel were included, one big moment in the book that easily could’ve fit into the film’s runtime was the scene involving Severus Snape’s potions riddle.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione go into the trapdoor for the Sorcerer’s Stone, they face multiple challenges set by the teachers to protect the stone. Despite Rubeus Hagrid stating that Snape was one of the teachers protecting the stone, Snape’s potions riddle challenge was excluded. This would have been a very easy scene to include, requiring no special effects or stunts, and would have been a good way to emphasize Hermione’s role in the trio.

The Films Excluded a lot of the Common Room Scenes

The Films Missed Out on the Cozy Moments of the Trio in the Common Room

With the constraints of a feature-length runtime, there is very little time in the films for “filler” moments of the characters experiencing everyday student life at Hogwarts. One element of the books that the films often neglected was the scenes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting around the Gryffindor Common Room.

These “filler” scenes in the book were never pointless, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione often discussing the mystery of that year while lounging in front of the Common Room fireplace. These scenes helped to emphasize the cozy feel of Hogwarts, and were great ways of illustrating the dynamics of the group. With HBO’s remake having more time for what would be considered “filler,” fans hope to see more scenes like this in the next adaptation.

Harry Breaking the Elder Wand

Harry Doesn’t Repair His Old Wand in the Film

The Elder Wand plays a crucial role in the final Harry Potter novel, being the most powerful wand in the Wizarding World and ultimately being what leads to Voldemort’s downfall. The film did a good job at highlighting the wand, but one moment from the films seriously upset fans of the novels.

Related

Harry Potter: Every Known Owner of the Elder Wand, in Chronological Order

The Elder Wand may have been a rarity in the world of Harry Potter, but plenty of people got their hands on it at one point in Wizarding history.

By the end of Deathly Hallows, Harry discovers that he is the true master of the Elder Wand. In the film, Harry decides that the wand is more trouble than it is worth, and snaps it in half. This upset fans because, in the novel, Harry uses the Elder Wand to repair his original wand, and this would have been a very easy scene to include in the film while still having the big emotional moment of Harry breaking the Elder Wand.

The Films Gave No Explanation on the Marauders’ Map

The Prisoner of Azkaban Adaptation Didn’t Reveal the Identities of the Marauders

The third Harry Potter novel, Prisoner of Azkaban, placed a lot of emphasis on the mystery of the Marauders, with Harry being given the Marauder’s Map by Fred and George Weasley. While the film equally highlights the map, the identities of the Marauders are never actually expanded on in the film.

While the film implies that Remus Lupin and Sirius Black are familiar with the map, the book goes into detail on the identity of the Marauders, and explains how they made the map during their time at school. Including this in the film would not have required much, simply a line revealing that the four names listed on the map represented Remus, Sirius, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter.

Ludo Bagman’s Entire Character Was Cut From the Films

The Red Herring Character’s Entire Subplot Was Excluded From Goblet of Fire

Goblet of Fire was the first Harry Potter film that excluded entire subplots from the adaptation, and this can be seen with the entire character of Ludo Bagman, and his complete absence in the film. In the book, Bagman is introduced at the Quidditch World Cup, later arriving at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament.

Related

10 Non-Hogwarts Harry Potter Characters We Need to See in HBO’s Reboot

The Harry Potter franchise has many characters that weren’t in Hogwarts that the upcoming reboot could benefit from using.

Bagman largely existed to be a red herring in the mystery of who put Harry’s name in the Goblet of Fire, and his absence erases this aspect of the mystery for the viewers. Bagman’s constant attempts at giving Harry tips to get through the Tournament made him a prime suspect for readers, so the film feels slightly empty without him.

Voldemort’s Death Scene Was Very Different in the Book

The Film’s Version of This Scene Differed Greatly From the Purposely Anticlimactic Scene in the Book

While this major moment was not technically left out of the films, it differs so much from the scene in the novel that it feels like an omission. Harry’s final confrontation with Voldemort is a big moment in Deathly Hallows, with Harry explaining to Voldemort the flaw in his plan that led to Harry’s survival.

In the film, however, the confrontation features no dialogue, with the two flying all over Hogwarts before standing still in the courtyard as their spells interconnect between them for an extended amount of time. The manner in which Voldemort’s death is portrayed is the biggest change, evaporating rather than just falling to the ground like he did in the novel, which robs the film of the message of Voldemort being what he feared most: a mortal man.

Remus Lupin’s Subplot in Deathly Hallows Was Excluded

Lupin Was Much Less Developed in the Films

Despite Deathly Hallows being split into two films, there were still a lot of book moments that didn’t make it into the adaptation. One of these moments involved Remus Lupin, with his entire subplot being excluded from the films. In the novel, Remus meets up with the trio while they are hiding out at Grimmauld Place, and asks to join them on the run after finding out that his wife, Nymphadora Tonks, was pregnant.

Considering how much time Deathly Hallows Part I had, it would not have been difficult to include the scene of Remus arriving at Grimmauld Place, as it would have required no stunts or special effects, simply the characters sitting around the kitchen, talking. The exclusion of this scene really makes Remus a lot less developed in the films, with the line referencing his son in Deathly Hallows Part II feeling rather out of nowhere for viewers who hadn’t read the book.

Harry Potter

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Latest Film

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

Upcoming TV Shows

Harry Potter

Where to watch

HBO Max

Expand